Summary and Reviews of Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

A King

Every time a stranger arrives in Sparta, the palace turns into a house of whispers. News travels as fast as sea breeze and the servants make every surface shine like gold. In the late afternoon, when the light is thinning and the air scented, they call Clytemnestra for her cleansing. "An important man will be here for dinner," they twitter.

"A warrior?" asks Clytemnestra, as they walk toward the baths in the darkness of the corridor. Her ankle hurts less every day, and soon she will be able to run and exercise again.

"A king," they say. "Or that is what we heard."

In the bathroom, Helen is already cleaning herself in the painted clay bath, the old wounds on her arms dressed with herbs. Her face is smooth, luminous again. Only one bruise remains, on her left cheek, where the bone was broken. Two more tubs are ready beside her, filled to the brim with water, and behind them an old servant woman is preparing soap. It is made from olives, and it smells rich and fruity.

"Have ...

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. At the start of the novel, Clytemnestra intervenes in a fight involving her sister, Helen. When told that she must let people win their own battles, she thinks to herself, "What if the loser is your loved one?" How does this mentality guide Clytemnestra throughout her life?
2. Clytemnestra and the rest of the girls in Sparta are trained to fight as children. How does this warrior mentality guide her throughout the novel? How does this set her apart from other heroines you have read before?
3. The murder of Clytemnestra's first husband, Tantalus, and her baby is not told from the perspective of Clytemnestra herself. How did you read this change in perspective? What did it add to the narrative?
4. Clytemnestra and Helen's relationship is...

Please be aware that this discussion may contain spoilers!

Here are some of the comments posted about Clytemnestra in our legacy forum.
You can see the full discussion here.


Aegisthus tells Clytemnestra that "Sometimes it is better to bleed than to feel nothing at all." What's your take on this statement, and do you agree or disagree?
I find it difficult to define Aegisthus's character, since he seems to be a foil for Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, but then he says "it's better to bleed than to feel nothing." He's held in contempt by the House of Atreus, the ... - joannej

Are you familiar with any of the myths that are presented in this novel? Were any told differently than you remember?
I was familiar with the major stories surrounding heroes and gods. I enjoyed the modern perspective that this novel took. Seeing through Clytemnestra's eyes is completely lacking in the classic texts, where there is no sense of human agency. ... - deeh

Clytemnestra has been portrayed by history as an evil queen. How does the author question that role?
Prior to reading this book, I had never really questioned that Clytemnestra was "evil." It was so interesting to see that there were reasons for her actions. I appreciated that the author added potential reasons for Clytemnestra's ... - deed

Clytemnestra thinks that queens are "either hated or forgotten." Do you think she's correct about how history treats powerful women?
Queen Elizabeth 1 comes to mind as a powerful queen who devoted her life to her people: she refused to follow her sister ---Bloody Mary---in making Catholicism Britain's religion because her people didn't want it, and she never ... - joannej

Do you believe Clytemnestra had another option that would have been preferable to marrying Agamemnon?
If I were Clytemnestra I would have done my best to kill him and commit suicide. This is myth and the characters motivations are not realistic but it is beyond me how a woman could live with and have 4 children by Agamemnon. The monster who murdered ... - linnie