Review of Pericles and Aspasia
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Triciat50
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Review of Pericles and Aspasia
[Following is a volunteer review of "Pericles and Aspasia" by Yvonne Korshak.]
Pericles of Athens, born around 495 BC, was a brilliant general and statesman in what is considered the birthplace of democracy. A great deal is known and has been written about his public life and accomplishments. Much less is known about the love of his life, Aspasia. Both of these historical figures are brought to life in Yvonne Korshak’s first novel, Pericles and Aspasia. This book's granular level of historical detail is its greatest strength, and Korshak is obviously an expert in ancient Greek civilization.
Aspasia literally washes ashore in Athens after escaping from a pirate ship after being kidnapped from her home in what is now Turkey. She is educated and intelligent, but considered a foreigner since she was not born in Athens. She was not allowed to own property, vote or attend public events. To survive in Athens, she becomes a courtesan and eventually meets Pericles. He is charmed, not only by her beauty but also by her intelligence and wit. Despite public criticism, Pericles divorces his first wife to live with Aspasia, and eventually, they have a son. Aspasia is considered by historians to have been a great influence on Pericles’ life.
Pericles was a talented politician and a prominent supporter of the arts, theater, philosophy, and architecture. Along with the love story of Pericles and Aspasia, the thread throughout this narrative is the building of the Parthenon, designed and created by his close friend Phidias, who carved the magnificent statue of Athena. Pericles oversaw the building of the structure, acquiring the funds necessary from the government to acquire skilled workers and materials needed for the incredible columns and carvings throughout the building.
What I loved about this book was the incredible detail of the story, from the markets to the mansions, warships to the stone carvings in the Parthenon. Korshak successfully brings to life figures from the ancient past, in their day-to-day lives, love affairs, political rivalries, and foreign wars. She succeeds in giving a voice to Aspasia, yet another overlooked woman in history. There was nothing that I didn’t like about the book, and I am already anticipating the promised sequel.
I am happy to give Pericles and Aspasia five out of five stars. This book is exceptionally well-edited, and I found no typographical or grammatical errors. Profanity is almost non-existent. This book would be a great introduction to Greek history, and I recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient Greek civilization.
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Pericles and Aspasia
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Pericles of Athens, born around 495 BC, was a brilliant general and statesman in what is considered the birthplace of democracy. A great deal is known and has been written about his public life and accomplishments. Much less is known about the love of his life, Aspasia. Both of these historical figures are brought to life in Yvonne Korshak’s first novel, Pericles and Aspasia. This book's granular level of historical detail is its greatest strength, and Korshak is obviously an expert in ancient Greek civilization.
Aspasia literally washes ashore in Athens after escaping from a pirate ship after being kidnapped from her home in what is now Turkey. She is educated and intelligent, but considered a foreigner since she was not born in Athens. She was not allowed to own property, vote or attend public events. To survive in Athens, she becomes a courtesan and eventually meets Pericles. He is charmed, not only by her beauty but also by her intelligence and wit. Despite public criticism, Pericles divorces his first wife to live with Aspasia, and eventually, they have a son. Aspasia is considered by historians to have been a great influence on Pericles’ life.
Pericles was a talented politician and a prominent supporter of the arts, theater, philosophy, and architecture. Along with the love story of Pericles and Aspasia, the thread throughout this narrative is the building of the Parthenon, designed and created by his close friend Phidias, who carved the magnificent statue of Athena. Pericles oversaw the building of the structure, acquiring the funds necessary from the government to acquire skilled workers and materials needed for the incredible columns and carvings throughout the building.
What I loved about this book was the incredible detail of the story, from the markets to the mansions, warships to the stone carvings in the Parthenon. Korshak successfully brings to life figures from the ancient past, in their day-to-day lives, love affairs, political rivalries, and foreign wars. She succeeds in giving a voice to Aspasia, yet another overlooked woman in history. There was nothing that I didn’t like about the book, and I am already anticipating the promised sequel.
I am happy to give Pericles and Aspasia five out of five stars. This book is exceptionally well-edited, and I found no typographical or grammatical errors. Profanity is almost non-existent. This book would be a great introduction to Greek history, and I recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient Greek civilization.
******
Pericles and Aspasia
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Miracle of Ramadan by Wassim Hijazi
