10 things you didn’t know about the women of Troy

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10 things you didn’t know about the legendary women of Troy

For The Immortal

The enthralling new historical novel by the author of the acclaimed For the Most Beautiful and For the Winner; the triumphant finale of the Golden Apple trilogy.

Emily  Hauser's novels combine thoughtful scholarship with a deep love for the ancient mythology. Her passion for bringing these stories to a modern audience is palpable, and her choice to dig into the untold stories of female characters offers a fresh and feminist take on well-known tales.

Madeline Miller, author of CIRCE and THE SONG OF ACHILLES

For the Immortal brings to a satisfying conclusion Emily Hauser's 'Golden Apple' trilogy, retelling some of the best-known Greek myths from a female perspective. Previous volumes have dealt with the Trojan War and the Golden Fleece; this one looks at the entangled tales of Admete, daughter of a Greek king, Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, and Hercules, hero of a dozen labours. As the trilogy has progressed, the stories Hauser has chosen to reimagine have grown less familiar to modern readers, but the skill she shows in giving them new life has not slackened.

Dr Emily Hauser is an award-winning classicist and historian and the author of an acclaimed trilogy of novels retelling the stories of women of Greek myth, For the Most Beautiful, For the Winner and For the Immortal. She read Classics at Cambridge, where she received a double first with distinction and won the Chancellor's Medal for Classical Proficiency. She has a PhD in Classics from Yale, and was a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. She is now a Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter, and teaches and researches on women's writing, ancient and modern. Her recent publications include How Women Became Poets: A Gender History of Greek Literature and a book for younger readers - Ancient Love Stories, illustrated by Sander Berg. 
Emily Hauser lives in Exeter.

'Offers a fresh and feminist take' Madeline Miller, bestselling author of Circe 
 
Thousands of years ago, two remarkable women found themselves swept up in one of the greatest legends of all . . . and discovered the price that must be paid for immortality. 
 
Desperate to save her dying brother, Admete persuades her father, the king of Tiryns, to allow her to accompany Hercules on one of his celebrated twelve labours. They travel to the land of the Amazons in the hopes of finding a cure – but their arrival causes tension with the infamous female warriors. Hippolyta, the revered queen of the tribe, sees their presence as a threat – both to her people, but also to the long-guarded secret she has been keeping from them. 
 
As battle lines are drawn between the Greeks and the Amazons, Admete and Hippolyta soon learn the inevitable truth – that in war, sacrifices must be made; especially if they are to protect the ones they love most . . . 
 
 
PRAISE FOR EMILY HAUSER: 
 
'Hauser recreates one of the oldest tales in Greek myth with great skill and panache.' The Times 
 
'Once in a while something comes along that's so utterly right, so necessary for now, that you wonder why nobody thought of it before. Emily Hauser's stunning debut novel . . . brings ancient Troy wildly, raucously, passionately alive.' Manda Scott, bestselling author of Boudica and Into the Fire 
 
'A delight from start to finish. Hauser's fresh perspective on one of the great archetypal epics, in focusing on the marginalised women's stories, makes for fascinating reading . . . a clever premise and thoroughly enjoyable.' Elizabeth Fremantle, author of Sisters of Treason 
 
'Kept me utterly absorbed. Here is a heroine to cheer for, and a book to cherish.' Margot Livesey, author of The House on Fortune Street 
 
'Beautifully descriptive . . . drawing the reader into a lost world of gods and heroes.' Glyn Iliffe, author of King of Ithaca

For the Winner

The enthralling new historical novel by the author of the acclaimed For the Most Beautiful, retelling the time-honoured legend of Jason and the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece, and of Atalanta, the princess who became a warrior and who fought alongside the warrior heroes of Greece on the greatest adventure of their age...

In For the Winner, Emily Hauser tells the compelling story of the brave, strong and clever Atalanta as she seeks to take her rightful place in her father's life. Her many adventures with Jason and his Argonauts kept me utterly absorbed. Here is a heroine to cheer for, and a book to cherish.

One of the most fascinating and innovative recent novelisations of the legendary journey of Jason and the Argonauts to capture the Golden Fleece seen from the eyes of the only heroine who, according to myth, took part: Atalanta. Although Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most famous stories of Greek mythology, the story of Atalanta has been less known or even neglected throughout the centuries. Emily Hauser's novel fills this gap with intellectual erudition, passion and paralleled imagination in order to give us, in the liveliest way possible, the story of an amazing female character and her journey from anonymity to immortality through her unbelievable heroic deeds.

Antony Makrinos, Fellow in Classics at UCL

An enchanting, dramatic novel that brings to life iconic mythic characters, including a woman whose voice had long been silenced.

For the Winner is beautifully descriptive and full of historical detail, easily drawing the reader into a lost world of gods and heroes. By taking the viewpoint of Atalanta, a lesser known character from Greek myth, Hauser gives us a refreshingly original take on Jason's famous quest for the Golden Fleece.

A brilliant, epic tale full of breath-taking action with a shining star at its centre, Atalanta, a female warrior of incredice force and drive. This gem of a book will leave you desperate for the next Emily Hauser novel.

Hauser recreates one of the oldest tales in Greek myth with great skill and panache.

An enthralling re-telling of Greek myth . . . Hauser's rendering of Atalanta is captivating, the story-telling masterful and engaging. The ancient myths are in good hands!

Dr Michael Scott, Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Warwick University

It’s wonderful how Emily Hauser brings alive this Bronze Age world . . . this is immersive writing, marvellously descriptive and evocative . . .  an elegant, exciting and in some ways moving story.

It is Atalanta, determined to prove herself every bit as good as a man, who turns this into a story which speaks to us . . . Despite the will of the gods, she is very clearly in charge of her own destiny. It is this mixture of feminism and self-determination which makes For the Winner a very modern and relevant novel.

Some three thousand years ago, in a time before history, the warriors of Greece journeyed to the ends of the earth in the greatest expedition the world had ever seen. 
 
One woman fought alongside them. 
 
Abandoned at birth on the slopes of Mount Pelion, Atalanta is determined to prove her worth to the father who cast her aside. Having taught herself to hunt and fight, and disguised as a man, she wins a place on the greatest voyage of that heroic age: with Jason and his band of Argonauts in search of the legendary Golden Fleece. 
 
And it is here, in the company of men who will go down in history as heroes, that Atalanta must battle against the odds – and the will of the gods – to take control of her destiny and change her life forever. 
 
With her unrivalled knowledge and captivating storytelling, Emily Hauser brings alive an ancient world where the gods can transform a mortal’s life on a whim, where warriors carve out names that will echo down the ages . . . and where one woman fights to determine her own fate.

For The Most Beautiful

In this startlingly original and thrillingly imagined debut, a brilliant new voice reveals the untold story behind the Trojan war: the princess and the slave who undid Achilles and fought to save Troy . . . 
 
Perfect for fans of Tracy Chevalier's The Girl with the Pearl Earring and Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist

If you've been gripped by Pat Barker's The Women of Troy and The Silence of the Girls, then For the Most Beautiful is a must-read for you . . . 
 
Three thousand years ago a war took place that gave birth to legends - to Achilles, the greatest of the Greeks, and Hector, prince of Troy. It was a war that shook the very foundations of the world. But what if there was more to this epic conflict? What if there was another, hidden tale of the Trojan War? 
 
Now is the time for the women of Troy to tell their story. 
 
Thrillingly imagined and startlingly original, For the Most Beautiful reveals the untold story of Krisayis, daughter of the Trojans' High Priest, and of Briseis, princess of Pedasus, who fight to determine the fate of a city and its people in this ancient time of mischievous gods and mythic heroes. 
 
In this novel full of passion and revenge, loyalty and betrayal, bravery and sacrifice, Emily Hauser breathes exhilarating new life into one of the greatest legends of all - in a tale that has waited millennia to be told. 
 
'Brings ancient Troy wildly, raucously, passionately alive' Manda Scott, author of Boudica

Once in a while something comes along that’s so utterly right, so necessary for now, that you wonder why nobody thought of it before. Emily Hauser’s stunning debut novel . . . brings ancient Troy wildly, raucously, passionately alive and tells at last the stories of those who really mattered.

MANDA SCOTT, bestselling author of Boudica and Into the Fire

A feast for the senses, richly described and effortlessly easy to read. It brings to life an ancient world long gone, and in so doing reminds us of the traumas and costs of war, which are sadly still so much a part of our world today.

MICHAEL SCOTT, presenter of Rome's Invisible City

A delight from start to finish. Hauser’s fresh perspective on one of the great archetypal epics, in focusing on the marginalised women’s stories, makes for fascinating reading . . . a clever premise and a thoroughly enjoyable.

ELIZABETH FREMANTLE, author of Sisters of Treason

In her sparkling debut novel classicist Emily Hauser offers a fresh take on the old but living legend spun so artfully in Homer's Iliad . . . tells a ripping good story.

PAUL CARTLEDGE, Professor of Ancient History at Cambridge

A brilliant re-imagining of the Iliad, faithful to the original yet completely accessible . . . the two young women at the centre of the drama are faithfully representative of their time and place yet feel compellingly contemporary . . . Emily Hauser has given us a lively new take on a classic.

TERRY HAWKINS, author of The Rage of Achilles

Fascinating . . . highly convincing . . . a familiar tale told in an unfamiliar way. Presenting the story from the point of view of the women, rather than the warriors, gives Hauser's novel real edge and originality.

Intensely described . . . there is no doubting Hauser's passionate involvement with, and knowledge of, her subject.

Breathing life into these bit-part characters . . . written with energy and passion.

A new, feminine perspective on the events of the Iliad . . . a colourful tale of gods and mortals.

This elegant, warm novel moves between two great Trojan beauties . . . through their stories, we witness both sides of this titanic war while feminine beauty and masculine martial prowess compete for the attention of the reader and the gods.

Hauser’s characters are brave, wilful, sometimes foolish, impulsive, and utterly relatable, and her portrayal of the manipulative, capricious gods is particularly wonderful . . . this quick-paced, enthralling retelling will attract readers who loved Madeline Miller’s The Song of ­Achilles

Colourful and entertaining . . . a very different story when seen through female eyes.

Colourful and entertaining tale of gods and mortals, war and love.

If you've been gripped by Pat Barker's The Women of Troy and The Silence of the Girls, then For the Most Beautiful is a must-read for you . . . 
 
Three thousand years ago a war took place that gave birth to legends - to Achilles, the greatest of the Greeks, and Hector, prince of Troy. It was a war that shook the very foundations of the world. But what if there was more to this epic conflict? What if there was another, hidden tale of the Trojan War? 
 
Now is the time for the women of Troy to tell their story. 
 
Thrillingly imagined and startlingly original, For the Most Beautiful reveals the untold story of Krisayis, daughter of the Trojans' High Priest, and of Briseis, princess of Pedasus, who fight to determine the fate of a city and its people in this ancient time of mischievous gods and mythic heroes. 
 
In this novel full of passion and revenge, loyalty and betrayal, bravery and sacrifice, Emily Hauser breathes exhilarating new life into one of the greatest legends of all - in a tale that has waited millennia to be told. 
 
'Brings ancient Troy wildly, raucously, passionately alive' Manda Scott, author of Boudica

Emily Hauser

A bold and intellectually-thrilling book, blending history and science, rigorous scholarship and dazzling feats of imagination.

TOM HOLLAND, bestselling historian and co-host of The Rest is History podcast

This book is one of the most thought provoking I have read in a very long time . . . it absolutely blew me away. It is such a rich, evocative and original work . . . it's just breathtaking . . . If you are interested in the ancient world I truly cannot recommend Mythica highly enough. I would go so far as to say you HAVE to read it - this book is quite wonderful.

ELODIE HARPER, bestselling author of The Wolf Den

Scholarly and witty, curious and lyrical - in Mythica, Emily Hauser offers a dazzling new way of thinking about the ancient world. Blending archaeology, literary criticism and historical detective work, Hauser shows us how to read against the grain of Homer’s epic poems to uncover the female experience of life in the Bronze Age. Mythica is a wonderful, beautifully written and important book.

From the shadowy recesses of myth and epic poetry, step forth a host of women who once lived: mothers, daughters, wives, weavers, witches, slaves, queens and warriors. These women surface in Homer's stories, but Dr Hauser puts flesh on their bones, finding a window to the past that allows us to imagine the true depth and breadth of their experiences . . . a stirring, enlightening and fascinating exploration.

JENNIFER SAINT, bestselling author of Hera

A book the world has been waiting for. Reveals the brilliant foundation for the reality of the myths that make all of us . . . I loved it.

BETTANY HUGHES, bestselling author of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Vividly brings the women of the Bronze Age to life, with a winning combination of sparkling, energetic writing and meticulous research into the archaeology of the time.

TIM WHITMARSH, Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge and author of Battling the Gods: Atheism in the Ancient World

A fascinating and empowering exploration of women in mythology. Hauser guides us on an epic journey through the Homeric world, drawing on her expert knowledge to challenge the male-dominated voices of the past and reclaim women’s rightful place in history.

ROSIE HEWLETT, bestselling author of Medea

Emily Hauser spotlights the fundamental contradiction in ancient epic: the stories rely on female protagonists but rarely put them centre stage to tell their stories in their own words. This book offers a brilliant riposte to that millennia-old dilemma . . . their stories are fascinating, enthralling and insightful – and help to recolour the world of epic for us for good!

MICHAEL SCOTT, Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Warwick University and author of X Marks the Spot

A masterpiece. Emily Hauser . . . awakens in us a sense of wonder as these mythologized women come to life in stories that are woven into the fabric of Homeric poetry . . . shows us Homer in a new light: in a world inhabited by women uneclipsed by men.

GREGORY NAGY, Professor of Classics at Harvard University

A dazzling and compassionate achievement. Emily Hauser’s book . . . uses archaeology old and new to throw brilliant light on the world of Homer. Impressively researched and beautifully written, this account is dense but never dry, and full of astonishing revelations. Hauser has woven a vibrant tapestry of colour, scent, sound and texture: the best kind of scholarship. It deserves a place on every school and university bookshelf as well as in the home of anyone who loves mythology.

CAROLINE LAWRENCE, author of The Roman Mysteries

Someone once wrote that the world of Homer is immortal precisely because it never existed - except in the poetic imagination: a thought that award-winning classicist and novelist Dr Emily Hauser exploits and explores brilliantly in her 18 character-sketches of ancient females both divine and human, both Greek and non-Greek . . . she writes her women subjects back in to a dominantly masculinist literary and visual tradition.

PAUL CARTLEDGE, Emeritus Professor of Greek Culture, Cambridge University

The rare book that will not only deepen your understanding of Homer, but open your mind to an entirely new, richer way of reading ancient epic, weaving together literature, art, archaeology, history, and imagination. Hauser uses her gifts as both a scholar and a novelist to bring the past to life and reanimate both ancient and interior landscapes. In the silent negative space between the heroes' journeys, she uncovers and gives voice to the real and mythic women of antiquity and many twentieth-century female scholars whose tireless work has often been forgotten.

DONNA ZUCKERBERG, author of Not All Dead White Men

‘A timely reminder of how much has been left out of traditional myth and storytelling . . . Hauser has given her readers two gifts: first, by helping us listen carefully to the details already present in ancient myths, she helps us learn to read the past better; second, by recuperating the story lives of so many famous characters, she restores fullness to our own engagement with the past.

JOEL CHRISTENSEN, Professor of Classical Studies at Brandeis University

Having just finished Mythica, I am utterly blown away by its brilliance. You have written an absolute masterpiece. Every accolade, every word of praise you receive for Mythica, will not only be highly deserved but will also rightly seal its reputation as one of the best non-fiction books to have been published in the past decade. It is beautifully written. But more than that, both conceptually and methodologically, it is a dazzling and profoundly original work. It is women’s history, classical history, philology, literary criticism, and philosophy synthesized and reconfigured into something new and sui generis. I take my hat off to it and you.

AMANDA FOREMAN, author of Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire

Hauser brings together an astounding array of material, from paintings to pig bones, palatial discoveries to oceanography, and guides us carefully across ancient and modern time.

Homer's women may not have existed in the literal sense, but the societies recalled in the poems did, and Hauser offers a way to see them in a new light.

Be sure to read historian Emily Hauser's latest, Mythica, which reveals the lives of Homer's women.

A very cool book about the true stories in archeology and history behind the women of all the famous myths.

A New History of Homer’s World, Through the Women Written Out of It

A MUST-READ AS CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S EPIC FILM 'THE ODYSSEY' SAILS ONTO MOVIE SCREENS THIS SUMMER! 
 
THE INSTANT TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
Award-winning classicist and historian Emily Hauser takes readers on an epic journey to uncover the true story of the real women behind Ancient Greece’s greatest legends in Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and Odyssey . . . 
 
'Bold and intellectually thrilling.' TOM HOLLAND, historian and co-host of 'The Rest is History' podcast 
 
'Absolutely blew me away . . . this book is quite wonderful.' ELODIE HARPER, author of The Wolf Den 
 
'A wonderful, beautifully written and important book.' DAN JONES, author of Henry V 
 
'A book the world has been waiting for . . . I loved it.' 
BETTANY HUGHES, author of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World 
 
Contrary to perceptions built up over three thousand years, ancient history is not all about men – and it's not only men's stories that deserve to be told. 
 
In Mythica Emily Hauser tells, for the first time, the extraordinary stories of the real women behind some of the western world’s greatest legends. Following in their footsteps, digging into the history behind Homer’s epic poems, piecing together evidence from the original texts, recent astonishing archaeological finds and the latest DNA studies, she reveals who these women – queens, mothers, warriors, slaves – were, how they lived, and how history has (or has not – until now) remembered them. 
 
A riveting new history of the Bronze Age Aegean and a journey through Homer’s epics charted entirely by women – from Helen of Troy, Briseis, Cassandra and Aphrodite to Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso and Penelope – Mythica is a ground-breaking reassessment of the reality behind the often-mythologized women of Greece’s greatest epics, and of the ancient world itself as we learn ever more about it.

Emily Hauser

Books by Emily Hauser

Articles featuring Emily Hauser

10 things you didn’t know about the legendary women of Troy

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