Elektra

Starred review from March 21, 2022
Saint (Ariadne) returns with a brilliant feminist revision of the Greek myth of the House of Atreus. As in the Aeschylus plays, the lives of three powerful women intersect through war and vengeance: Cassandra, daughter of the king and queen of Troy; Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon; and Elektra, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. In alternating chapters, each woman relays her own story and is treated to generous and bold character development. Cassandra, kissed by the god Apollo, receives the gift of prophecy and is disregarded by her family despite the fates she sees for them. Agamemnon wages war against Troy beginning with a treacherous act that Clytemnestra cannot forgive. Clytemnestra soon bears Agamemnon’s son, a child she finds difficult to love because of his association with Agamemnon, and joins forces with her nephew, Aegisthus. Saint enriches the tense story with psychological depth, showing, for instance, how Elektra simmers with resentment of her mother and Aegisthus for their betrayal of Agamemnon. The author also does a splendid job managing the timeline, with rich and sustained scenes and seamless jumps. Out of a canonical myth, Saint has built a commanding story of rebellious women.

September 1, 2022

Seamlessly weaving stories from Homeric epics and Greek tragedies into the myth of the Trojan War, Saint (Ariadne) showcases three iconic women of Greek mythology. Clytemnestra, twin sister of Helen whose abduction by Paris, prince of Troy, starts the war, is married to renowned warrior Agamemnon. When he betrays their family to appease the gods, grief-stricken Clytemnestra begins to plot her revenge. Daughter Elektra feels abandoned by her mother and considers Agamemnon a hero, setting the stage for a deadly mother-daughter conflict. The story of priestess and princess Cassandra of Troy is told from inside the besieged city, a unique spin on traditional Trojan War tales. The outstanding performances from Jane Collingwood, Beth Eyre, and Julie Teal transport listeners into the minds of these well-crafted characters, allowing listeners to empathize with them, despite their gruesome acts of revenge. Their careful pacing and nuanced delivery lay bare the characters' rage and grief as they struggle against their terrible destinies. VERDICT Familiarity with Greek mythology is not a prerequisite to enjoying Saint's riveting feminist Trojan War tale, especially since the narrators flesh out the characters so well.--Beth Farrell

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