Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2018. The Song of Achilles’ author unspools a tantalising mythological tale of survival, transformation, revenge and women’s fight to be free.
Waterstones Fiction Book of the Month for April 2019
Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019
Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2018
When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Yet, in the golden halls of gods and nymphs, Circe stands apart, as something separate, something new. With neither the look nor the voice of divinity, and scorned and rejected by her kin Circe is increasingly isolated. Turning to mortals for companionship, she risks defying her father for love, a path that leads her not to the marriage bed but to a discovery of a power forbidden to the gods: witchcraft.
Banished by Zeus to the remote island of Aiaia, Circe refines her craft, fate entwining her with legends: the messenger god, Hermes. The craftsman, Daedalus. A ship bearing a golden fleece. And wily Odysseus, on his epic voyage home. As her power increases and her knowledge grows, so Circe must make the ultimate choice: to decide whether she belongs with the deities she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.
A source of fascination for ancient writers from Homer to Ovid, Circe is a character whose story is steeped in magic and mystery. Caught up in the story of heroes, she is a figure apart, a player in the lives of heroes and gods but one who has never commanded her own story, until now.
From the imaginative power that summoned Orange Prize-winning global bestseller The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller returns with an electrifying take on Greek Myth’s most misunderstood deity. From her tale Miller spins a story of antiquity’s wildest rebel girl, a sun-god’s daughter with a human heart. One of Waterstones’ choices for our Best Books to Look Out for in April, booksellers and customers alike have been swept up by this moving, exuberant novel, translating the male-centred fantasies of myth into something startlingly feminine, real and awake.
"Circe has really set the standard for fiction publishing this year, both in terms of Miller’s exquisite writing and Bloomsbury’s beautiful production values. Miller has breathed new life into the Greek myths, putting a welcome feminist spin on old narratives: it is a thoroughly modern and pertinent retelling by a master storyteller." – Bea Carvalho, Waterstones Fiction Buyer
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ISBN: 9781408890042
Number of pages: 352
Weight: 240 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'This Me-Too era, kickass portrait of a woman trying to defy the men and Fates arrayed against her is enchanting. A blisteringly modern approach.' - The Times
'...[her prose] is supple, pitched in a register that bridges man and myth.' - The Guardian
‘Circe gives us a feminist slant on the Odyssey ... Miller makes these age-old texts thrum with contemporary relevance… An airy delight, a novel to be gobbled greedily in a single sitting.’ - The Observer
‘In a thrilling tour de force of imagination, Miller makes her otherworldly heroine a complex, sympathetic figure for whom we cheer throughout. Circe is a truly spellbinding novel, the mesmerising shimmer of ancient magic rising from it like a heat haze.’ - The Mail on Sunday
‘An epic spanning thousands of years that's also a keep-you-up-all-night page turner.’ - Ann Patchett
‘Fabulous ... Bold and sensuously written, it plays brilliantly with the original myth of Circe.’ - The Daily Mail
‘In Circe, Miller gives depth and history to the title character, how it was she came to be on her island, and her struggles as an independent woman. The "heroes" of Greek myths - the gods, Odysseus and so on - get shoved to the side, as Miller brings to the forefront a fascinating, captivating female character. This is wonderfully detailed and well worth the more than five year wait since The Song of Achilles.’ – Stylist
‘A mesmerising, fiercely feminist and lyrical retelling of a story from Greek mythology - as enchanting as the enchantress herself.’ - Psychologies
‘Circe is the utterly captivating, exquisitely written story of an ordinary, and extraordinary, woman's life.’ - Eimear McBride
‘Horror, heartache and grit pour from the pages of this exquisitely written and compelling novel. An alchemist with words, Miller continues to rejuvenate the classics with her exceptional talent… Circe is one of the best and most rewarding books of 2018.’ - Attitude, Book of the Month
‘Gives Greek mythology a modern, feminist twist.’ - Elle
You may also be interested in...
“Deserves more than five stars....”
This is a first class story with unforgettable characters,beautiful writing and brings Circe to life.
She literally takes your breath away; comes in every emotion, her vulnerability, her endless love as lover and...
More
“Stunning!”
Madeline Miller is a wonderful storyteller and this novel clearly shows her skill. This rich, poetic tapestry is shot through with threads of despair and glints of hope.
Intensely engaging in more ways than one.
“Breathes life into legend and myth”
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
I had loved The Song of Achilles by this author and so was keen to read this book. All I knew about Circe was...
More
Please sign in to write a review
Sign In / Register
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?