A Thousand Ships

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

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A Thousand Ships

Genre: Historical fiction; mythology retelling
Originally Published: 2019
Reading Level/Interest: Adult/college
Structure/Length: Novel divided into 43 chapters with multiple perspectives and stories; approx. 368 pages; approx. 8 hours, 34 minutes on audiobook
Protagonist/Central Conflict: A Thousand Ships is a historical fiction novel by Natalie Haynes that reimagines the events of the Trojan War from the perspectives of the women involved. The central conflict revolves around the legendary war between the Greeks and the Trojans, but the narrative is shaped by the experiences, voices, and stories of the women affected by the conflict. From the perspectives of figures like Penelope, Cassandra, and Andromache, the novel explores themes of love, loss, resilience, and the impact of war on women’s lives. Natalie Haynes provides a fresh and empathetic look at a well-known mythological tale, giving voice to the women who have often been overlooked in traditional retellings.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of war, loss, and violence

Natalie Haynes, Author

Bio: British author and broadcaster known for her novels, essays, and adaptations of classical literature; New York Times best-selling author; writes for The Guardian and contributes to BBC Radio 4; celebrated for engaging with themes from mythology and promoting the classics
Other Works: The Amber Fury (2014): The Children of Jocasta (2017); Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths (2020); Stone Blind (2022)
Awards: Shortlisted for the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction