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A Thousand Ships
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Natalie Haynes
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Written by:
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Natalie Haynes
About this listen
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
An NPR Best Book of the Year
“Gorgeous.... With her trademark passion, wit, and fierce feminism, Natalie Haynes gives much-needed voice to the silenced women of the Trojan War.”—Madeline Miller, author of Circe
Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, a gorgeous retelling of the Trojan War from the perspectives of the many women involved in its causes and consequences—for fans of Madeline Miller.
This is the women’s war, just as much as it is the men’s. They have waited long enough for their turn . . .
This was never the story of one woman, or two. It was the story of them all . . .
In the middle of the night, a woman wakes to find her beloved city engulfed in flames. Ten seemingly endless years of conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans are over. Troy has fallen.
From the Trojan women whose fates now lie in the hands of the Greeks, to the Amazon princess who fought Achilles on their behalf, to Penelope awaiting the return of Odysseus, to the three goddesses whose feud started it all, these are the stories of the women whose lives, loves, and rivalries were forever altered by this long and tragic war.
A woman’s epic, powerfully imbued with new life, A Thousand Ships puts the women, girls and goddesses at the center of the Western world’s great tale ever told.
©2019 Natalie Haynes (P)2021 HarperCollins PublishersYou may also enjoy...
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What listeners say about A Thousand Ships
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Madeline Moore
- 2022-05-31
absolutely stunning
I cried, I laughed, I was full of rage. what a gorgeous book, telling stories I'm familiar with in the way I've always craved. I had the urge, once it ended, to just start from the beginning again.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Patricia G
- 2023-05-16
The women, all the women❤️
The narration alone she deserves flowers for voicing these characters to life in my head, keeping me engaged. The author did an outstanding job of the different women's stories, their perspectives, and their mindset of their harsh realities. The stories gave me a spectrum full of feelings. BRAVO!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Lorette George
- 2021-05-14
Imagined historical novel from women's perspective
I really enjoyed this novel as it gave another perspective, albeit imagined, on the story of Helen of Troy. It wasn't just romanticizing the epic story, it actually provided a more balanced view. The narrator was fantastic and I could actually imagine her as actually being in the period of history and telling her story.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2023-01-17
Very good book
Well-performed. Really liked it. Wanted to give it 4.5 stars across the board. Worth the time.
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- nice
- 2021-07-06
I liked it a lot but just one critique
patrocles and achilles were not just friends 🌝 But all in all i enjoyed it a lot, her voice is very good and she is great at story telling, i had a good time!! and of course the stories themselves were excellent and heartbreaking, but all the women mentioned were formidable and interesting and inspiring (even the petty ones) ♥️
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- Amy Braun
- 2022-08-20
Enthralling and Empowering
Absolutely excellent. Simply, this is one of the most powerful and compelling books I've ever read. It's not a comfort read, but it is expertly crafted and worth any readers time.
The story is told from multiple perspectives of those characters who lived before, during, and after the Trojan war. It's almost like a series of historical journals and letters. Its dozens of stories from dozens of different women: princesses, queens, goddesses, warriors, wives, each with a story to tell about the cost of a war that should never have been fought. I found every story empowering and each woman strong, particularly Penelope and Cassandra. They were treated with respect when the classical myths have often let them go unheard or labeled them as minor characters. Calliope's chapters, in particular, are not shy with this fact.
The themes are heartwrenching and tragic, but never entirely hopeless. Despite the misery these women go through, they remain strong until the last and their courage is what makes the book so compelling. That, combined with Haynes's outstanding prose.
Fans of historical fantasy, Greek mythology, and empowering fiction will find plenty to enjoy here. I can see why this book has won so many awards and it deserves all its accolades and then some. A must have for all readers looking for power and inspiration.
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- Kindle Customer
- 2024-07-31
great story and performance
I love stories about Greek mythology and have listened and read to a lot about the trojan war, I really enjoyed the fresh perspectives and feminist approach to this one, and I thought the author's performance as a narrator was wonderful.
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- Danielle McLaughlin
- 2023-10-23
A Great Retelling of Women Lost to the Ages
I'm an avid classics lover and this book had me absolutely enraptured. Natalie's depiction of women who are often overlooked in myth gives an organic and realistic view of the women mentioned in Homer's epic poem. From Penelope's letters to Odysseus to the anguish of the grieving mother Andromache, all these women are brought to life where most stories only focus on the male heroes and soldiers.
The themes of sacrifice, bravery and companionship really capture humanity and womanhood in its essence, leaving us with something to ponder. Natalie also narrates her work well and I can't wait to read and listen again.
Where Madeline Miller may write romances, Natalie Haynes has once again excelled at bringing to life characters that have been overlooked throughout the ages and offered them as they were perceived and written initially: As living breathing people.
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- A
- 2024-08-08
great story!
First off, spot on narration by the author here.
As to the contents, I def think she accomplished her goal of giving very interesting stories and voices to the women of the Trojan War. I liked that it was presented as the Greeks weren't actually 'winners' despite taking Troy. I also really liked that the two 'heroes' (Achilles and Odysseus) were shown with the same well-known stories but their actions were cast in a more critical light.
Strongly recommend for those who like the ancient epics.
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- CKH
- 2023-10-08
Compelling
Love this novel! "A Thousand Ships" is a must-read for anyone interested in Greek mythology.
This gives a powerful voice to the women of Troy, making their stories as compelling as those of the male heroes.
This beautifully written (but very readable) novel offers a rich and immersive reading experience. With the frequent return to the stories of Penelope and Calliope it is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.
The multiple viewpoints allows for a comprehensive exploration of the many womens' experiences. Each character's voice is distinct and vividly portrayed.
Narration was excellent (I came to this having stumbled on her amazing hilarious podcasts on BBC, check them out!)
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