The Priestess and the Slave
Archaeology buff Eric T. Reynolds commissioned me to write The Priestess and the Slave, a historical novella set in fifth century BC Athens and Delphi, as the first in an innovative Hadley Rille Books series of archaeologically-accurate short novels about the daily lives of ancient people living and coping with real historical crises. It was published on 15 April 2009.
It's available in hardback and paperback from amazon, fishpond and many other places, as well as from Hadley Rille Books directly. It's also now available as an audiobook, beautifully read by Hollie Jackson.
The amazing Kate Forsyth wrote, "Completely fascinating - a vivid and evocative glimpse into the life of the past, with its terrors and joys so strange and yet so familiar," and the astonishing Alison Goodman said, "A compelling blend of vivid storytelling and meticulous research. Fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable."
Legendary sf feminist Pamela Sargent wrote on Goodreads, "This elegant short novel…tells the interwoven stories of Thrasulla, a Pythia who is one of the oracles of Apollo, and Harmonia, a slave in an Athenian household. The author, with degrees in Classics, brings authority and detail to this story of those so often neglected by history, those without power. Women in classical Greece led especially limited lives, but Jenny Blackford brings both suspense and compassion to Harmonia's tale, which is restricted entirely to her master's house, and to Thrasulla's, when she must confront the madness in a Spartan king and the greed of a sister priestess."
In Macquarie University's scholarly journal Ancient History: Resources for Teachers, Elizabeth Stockadale writes "historically accurate to the finest detail… It is extraordinarily moving… This is a rewarding book on both levels. A true ancient historical novel."
Alison Woodward on ReadPlus writes, "These two emotionally moving tales give a glimpse at what life was like during ancient times, from the perspective of two quietly courageous women. It is written with such detail and accuracy that it is easy to see history through the eyes of those who lived it. Whilst being a short book, the themes are mature in nature and discerning readers will ponder the themes of survival, corruption and human nature. This is a highly recommended book for those who are interested in or studying Ancient Greece and gives a touching view of life in ancient times."
Gregory Benford called The Priestess and the Slave "wonderful", and said, "It has the arc of a novel, brevity of a short story - quite a job of compaction."
The June 2009 issue of inCite magazine - the news magazine of the Australian Library and Information Association - has a lovely review by Jill Enks of The Priestess and the Slave. Ms Enks writes, among other nice things, "If you have even a little interest in or knowledge of Ancient Greece, Jenny Blackford’s first book The priestess and the slave is well worth reading... Jenny has an extraordinary knowledge of Ancient Greece, both of the politics and the ordinary lives of the citizens. She writes with authority, providing fascinating details of life at that time. She also develops two characters with whom we can truly empathise. Both stories are suspenseful and fast moving. I hope that Jenny will continue writing historical books of such high quality."
Dr Fiona Hobden, Lecturer in Greek Culture in the School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, wrote in a review in HerStoria, "The Priestess and the Slave is a rich and enjoyable read. As is to be expected from a writer of science fiction and fantasy, Blackford’s world is detailed and convincing. Her women are intriguing and sharply defined, and they have the merit of humanity. In the modern (masculine) imagination, the Pythian priestess is often a mystical, exotic figure. ... Blackford’s Thrasulla, by contrast, is a fully-rounded woman of over fifty with a personal history, a clarity of perspective and an ethical code. By bringing women of fifth-century Greece to life, our author rescues them from the obscurity imposed by contemporary historians (who largely ignored them) and from sexualised male fantasies that continue to inform their representation... [Blackford's] attempt to reveal the historical reality of women’s lives takes us much closer to seeing ancient women as real people. For this reason, as well as for being an intelligently-executed novel, The Priestess and the Slave is thoroughly recommended."
Alison Spicer-Wensley, in a review in the WA Department of Education and Training's magazine Fiction Focus: New Titles for Teenagers, writes, "Each of the two stories reveals a great deal of thoroughly researched historical detail woven seamlessly into the narrative of these two very different women." She recommends The Priestess and the Slave for 15+ readers with an interest in ancient Greece, and ends, "It would be valuable enrichment material for upper secondary students studying Ancient History".
Author and poet Wendy Rathbone wrote, "I still cannot decide which story I enjoyed most, or which main character is my favorite. The slave character, stuck in her routine with a future that will never amount to anything beyond the borders of her owners, is an intriguing, if sad, plight. The priestess who is past her prime but now wields a fascinating idol-like power she could never know in her culture outside that elevated role has a wisdom and point of view I most especially enjoyed because it was so unique. Her observations are less naive than the young slave's, and show a wisdom and heart that is refreshing in a world populated by so many teen and/or 20-something protagonists. I highly recommend this book."
Author Kimberly Wade said, "The two stories told in this book are simple ones that touch on common themes of jealousy and betrayal, fear and grief. Blackford's uncommonly graceful prose strikes a perfect balance, never skimping on the archaeological details while at the same time not allowing them to overshadow the drama."
Author Ann Schwader wrote (of the audiobook), "The heroines’ individual stories are ... immediately engaging, with so much rich detail that I found myself “rewinding” the audio at numerous points. Fans of Mary Renault and similar authors will appreciate the seamless blending of research and plot."
Author Shauna Roberts wrote, "The historical novel The Priestess and the Slave, by focusing instead on two women of that time, is a breath of fresh air. For once, we see how half of the fifth-century Greeks lived and what their concerns were."
theindolentgrasshopper says, "The womens’ contrasting narratives, differing in perspective in time and social position, give a sense of the period and changes taking place in ancient Greece. The similarities and differences in the two characters are fascinating and enhance the listeners' understanding of womens’ roles and contribution to ancient society."
Archaeology buff Eric T. Reynolds commissioned me to write The Priestess and the Slave, a historical novella set in fifth century BC Athens and Delphi, as the first in an innovative Hadley Rille Books series of archaeologically-accurate short novels about the daily lives of ancient people living and coping with real historical crises. It was published on 15 April 2009.
It's available in hardback and paperback from amazon, fishpond and many other places, as well as from Hadley Rille Books directly. It's also now available as an audiobook, beautifully read by Hollie Jackson.
The amazing Kate Forsyth wrote, "Completely fascinating - a vivid and evocative glimpse into the life of the past, with its terrors and joys so strange and yet so familiar," and the astonishing Alison Goodman said, "A compelling blend of vivid storytelling and meticulous research. Fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable."
Legendary sf feminist Pamela Sargent wrote on Goodreads, "This elegant short novel…tells the interwoven stories of Thrasulla, a Pythia who is one of the oracles of Apollo, and Harmonia, a slave in an Athenian household. The author, with degrees in Classics, brings authority and detail to this story of those so often neglected by history, those without power. Women in classical Greece led especially limited lives, but Jenny Blackford brings both suspense and compassion to Harmonia's tale, which is restricted entirely to her master's house, and to Thrasulla's, when she must confront the madness in a Spartan king and the greed of a sister priestess."
In Macquarie University's scholarly journal Ancient History: Resources for Teachers, Elizabeth Stockadale writes "historically accurate to the finest detail… It is extraordinarily moving… This is a rewarding book on both levels. A true ancient historical novel."
Alison Woodward on ReadPlus writes, "These two emotionally moving tales give a glimpse at what life was like during ancient times, from the perspective of two quietly courageous women. It is written with such detail and accuracy that it is easy to see history through the eyes of those who lived it. Whilst being a short book, the themes are mature in nature and discerning readers will ponder the themes of survival, corruption and human nature. This is a highly recommended book for those who are interested in or studying Ancient Greece and gives a touching view of life in ancient times."
Gregory Benford called The Priestess and the Slave "wonderful", and said, "It has the arc of a novel, brevity of a short story - quite a job of compaction."
The June 2009 issue of inCite magazine - the news magazine of the Australian Library and Information Association - has a lovely review by Jill Enks of The Priestess and the Slave. Ms Enks writes, among other nice things, "If you have even a little interest in or knowledge of Ancient Greece, Jenny Blackford’s first book The priestess and the slave is well worth reading... Jenny has an extraordinary knowledge of Ancient Greece, both of the politics and the ordinary lives of the citizens. She writes with authority, providing fascinating details of life at that time. She also develops two characters with whom we can truly empathise. Both stories are suspenseful and fast moving. I hope that Jenny will continue writing historical books of such high quality."
Dr Fiona Hobden, Lecturer in Greek Culture in the School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, wrote in a review in HerStoria, "The Priestess and the Slave is a rich and enjoyable read. As is to be expected from a writer of science fiction and fantasy, Blackford’s world is detailed and convincing. Her women are intriguing and sharply defined, and they have the merit of humanity. In the modern (masculine) imagination, the Pythian priestess is often a mystical, exotic figure. ... Blackford’s Thrasulla, by contrast, is a fully-rounded woman of over fifty with a personal history, a clarity of perspective and an ethical code. By bringing women of fifth-century Greece to life, our author rescues them from the obscurity imposed by contemporary historians (who largely ignored them) and from sexualised male fantasies that continue to inform their representation... [Blackford's] attempt to reveal the historical reality of women’s lives takes us much closer to seeing ancient women as real people. For this reason, as well as for being an intelligently-executed novel, The Priestess and the Slave is thoroughly recommended."
Alison Spicer-Wensley, in a review in the WA Department of Education and Training's magazine Fiction Focus: New Titles for Teenagers, writes, "Each of the two stories reveals a great deal of thoroughly researched historical detail woven seamlessly into the narrative of these two very different women." She recommends The Priestess and the Slave for 15+ readers with an interest in ancient Greece, and ends, "It would be valuable enrichment material for upper secondary students studying Ancient History".
Author and poet Wendy Rathbone wrote, "I still cannot decide which story I enjoyed most, or which main character is my favorite. The slave character, stuck in her routine with a future that will never amount to anything beyond the borders of her owners, is an intriguing, if sad, plight. The priestess who is past her prime but now wields a fascinating idol-like power she could never know in her culture outside that elevated role has a wisdom and point of view I most especially enjoyed because it was so unique. Her observations are less naive than the young slave's, and show a wisdom and heart that is refreshing in a world populated by so many teen and/or 20-something protagonists. I highly recommend this book."
Author Kimberly Wade said, "The two stories told in this book are simple ones that touch on common themes of jealousy and betrayal, fear and grief. Blackford's uncommonly graceful prose strikes a perfect balance, never skimping on the archaeological details while at the same time not allowing them to overshadow the drama."
Author Ann Schwader wrote (of the audiobook), "The heroines’ individual stories are ... immediately engaging, with so much rich detail that I found myself “rewinding” the audio at numerous points. Fans of Mary Renault and similar authors will appreciate the seamless blending of research and plot."
Author Shauna Roberts wrote, "The historical novel The Priestess and the Slave, by focusing instead on two women of that time, is a breath of fresh air. For once, we see how half of the fifth-century Greeks lived and what their concerns were."
theindolentgrasshopper says, "The womens’ contrasting narratives, differing in perspective in time and social position, give a sense of the period and changes taking place in ancient Greece. The similarities and differences in the two characters are fascinating and enhance the listeners' understanding of womens’ roles and contribution to ancient society."