The Silence of the Girls
The ancient city of Troy has held the powerful Greek army back for ten years, but as the bloody war continues over the stolen woman Helen, another captive woman watches and waits for the war’s outcome. Briseis was queen of one of Troy’s neighbouring kingdoms. When the Greeks captured her, their greatest warrior Achilles claims her as his prize. Now his concubine, Briseis is forced to adjust to her new life as she watches her fellow women suffer while the Greeks continue to wage war.
Pat Baker’s The Silence of the Girls gives new life to the girls history erased. Briseis is one among thousands of women living behind the scenes in this war and through her we learn of the silent pain these women and girls were forced to bear. It’s not unlike the trauma women today experience in war-torn countries. Baker conveys Briseis’ heartbreak over the loss of her family and home with such emotion that it’s impossible for readers to not feel her despair.
Through Briseis’ eyes, readers are taken on a journey not normally shown in the history books. In Silence, Baker shows us the slaves and prostitutes, the nurses, the women who lay out the dead. Briseis tells us about the girls who have adjusted to their new lives and the ones who are waiting for their chance to be free. We see the girls who would rather die than be captured. But Briseis is determined to survive and it’s that refusal to let the Greeks defeat her that forces her to keep going.
Baker does not skim over the darkness that was Briseis’ life in the camp. Readers learn about the death, disease, and destruction the war causes. We learn about the emotional pain, not just of the women but of the warriors. Not all wanted the war to drag on as long as it did, especially after Achilles stopped fighting. Briseis showed us the young men who were casualties of Achilles’ stubbornness and the other kings’ greed. It was difficult to not feel some sort of pity for them.
The Silence of the Girls not only gave us a glimpse into the lives of the women history neglected, but also a new perspective of an old story, mainly that of Achilles. While reading, I kept thinking back to The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Miller’s Achilles and Baker’s Achilles were very different. However, I feel like Baker’s Achilles was closer to what he would have actually been like. It was more realistic to me, even if this Achilles wasn’t a shining hero.
Greek history and mythology have always interested me. Baker’s story relit that love in me and now I can’t wait to find more stories like hers.
The Silence of the Girls Rating: ★★★★★
Pat Baker’s The Silence of the Girls gives new life to the girls history erased. Briseis is one among thousands of women living behind the scenes in this war and through her we learn of the silent pain these women and girls were forced to bear. It’s not unlike the trauma women today experience in war-torn countries. Baker conveys Briseis’ heartbreak over the loss of her family and home with such emotion that it’s impossible for readers to not feel her despair.
Through Briseis’ eyes, readers are taken on a journey not normally shown in the history books. In Silence, Baker shows us the slaves and prostitutes, the nurses, the women who lay out the dead. Briseis tells us about the girls who have adjusted to their new lives and the ones who are waiting for their chance to be free. We see the girls who would rather die than be captured. But Briseis is determined to survive and it’s that refusal to let the Greeks defeat her that forces her to keep going.
Baker does not skim over the darkness that was Briseis’ life in the camp. Readers learn about the death, disease, and destruction the war causes. We learn about the emotional pain, not just of the women but of the warriors. Not all wanted the war to drag on as long as it did, especially after Achilles stopped fighting. Briseis showed us the young men who were casualties of Achilles’ stubbornness and the other kings’ greed. It was difficult to not feel some sort of pity for them.
The Silence of the Girls not only gave us a glimpse into the lives of the women history neglected, but also a new perspective of an old story, mainly that of Achilles. While reading, I kept thinking back to The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Miller’s Achilles and Baker’s Achilles were very different. However, I feel like Baker’s Achilles was closer to what he would have actually been like. It was more realistic to me, even if this Achilles wasn’t a shining hero.
Greek history and mythology have always interested me. Baker’s story relit that love in me and now I can’t wait to find more stories like hers.
The Silence of the Girls Rating: ★★★★★