Book Review: ‘Clytemnestra’ by Costanza Casati

Agememnon is one of my favourite Ancient Greek myths. For a long time I have turned back to Aeschylus’ ‘Oresteia’ and disappeared within its pages, but what that text lacks is real justice for Clytemnestra, the long suffering wife of the King of Mycenea.

I listened to ‘Clytemnestra’ on audio and I'm glad I did. There is something about these retellings and myths that feel much more weighty when narrated, and I can't really tell you why. I have listened to ‘The Children of Jocasta', ‘The Silence of the Girls' among others, in this way and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Here's the summary:

“Mother. Monarch. Murderer. Magnificent.

You are born to a king, but marry a tyrant. You stand helplessly as he sacrifices your child to placate the gods. You watch him wage war on a foreign shore and comfort yourself with violent thoughts of your own.

You play the part, fooling enemies who deny you justice. Slowly, you plot.

You are Clytemnestra.

But when the husband who owns you returns in triumph, what then?

Acceptance or vengeance - infamy follows both. So you bide your time and wait, until you might force the gods' hands and take revenge. Until you rise. For you understood something that the others don't. If power isn't given to you, you have to take it for yourself.”

The biggest problem I had with ‘Clytemnestra' was that I already knew the key plot points. And whereas I couldn’t be shocked by any certain turn of events, there is something utterly sickening knowing something is coming. Without giving it away if you are not familiar, there is something that happens to Iphigenia that is utterly abhorrent, so when I saw this coming it took me a couple of days to work myself up to listening to that bit.

This book is everything I love about retellings, especially Ancient Greek ones. The story was told with such poise and careful reflection, and the awful men in it remain awful rather than becoming glorified, or hero worshipped. There are no heroes, and the women expect none.

Agamemnon is absolutely disgusting, but I am blown away by how the author still created him as human, rather than a beastly villain. Is he the antagonist? In every way. But it's not irrational, nor is it illogical. There's something almost forgivable in his character. Almost. And that takes a real talent to make me believe that.

Every single woman on the page is fully realised, and capable. Often deeply flawed, and each character so uniquely motivated. It was a masterclass in character development.

I loved it. Finally, Clytemnestra has a fitting story, one that is both heart breaking and awe inspiring, strong and utterly broken.

I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

Written by Sarah