Karen Essex juxtaposed the stories of two women who bucked the conventions of their day to explore what happens to a powerful woman when she is limitted by men who think they can dominate, intimidate, and control her. Stealing Athena is historical fiction. The women are Aspasia, the Greek courtesan of the philosopher, Pericles, and Mary Elgin, the wife of the man who stripped the "Elgin" marbles from the Parthenon. They ended up in the British Museum and are back in the news today since Greece wants them back. The story is told in a compelling voice that has an underlying pathos and sexual tension. The book is more erotic than I am comfortable with but I have to admit that none of the sexuality is gratuitous. Sex is and has always been, after all, a man's primary device to entrap women. Essex explores the themes I am working with in my novel, Pastor's Ex-Wife, which you can read serialized on my website, www.teamlesley.com. My book concerns the clergy abuse scandal from the Protestant side. I plan to read more books by Karen Essex. I highly recommend Stealing Athena - but not for everyone.
Karen Essex, Stealing Athena. 2008. New York: Doubleday.
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