The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus

By Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood returns with a shrewd, funny, and insightful retelling of the myth of Odysseus from the point of view of Penelope. Describing her own remarkable vision, the author writes in the foreword, I’ve chosen to give the telling of the story to Penelope and to the twelve hanged maids. The maids form a chanting and singing Chorus, which focuses on two questions that must pose themselves after any close reading of the Odyssey: What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to? The story as told in the Odyssey doesn’t hold water: there are too many inconsistencies. I’ve always been haunted by the hanged maids and, in The Penelopiad, so is Penelope herself.” One of the high points of literary fiction in 2005, this critically acclaimed story found a vast audience and is finally available in paperback.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Canongate U.S.
• Release date: Dec 1, 2007
• ISBN: 9780802197832

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood, whose work has been published in over thirty-five countries, is the award-winning author of more than forty books of fiction, poetry, and critical essays. In addition to The Handmaid's Tale, which was made into a TV series, her novels include Cat's Eye, Alias Grace, Oryx and Crake, and The Robber Bride. She has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize five times, winning once for The Blind Assassin. She lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.

Reviews for The Penelopiad

[mallory · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful retelling that captures the spirit of Greek theater with ample references and allusions to other myths. Also- as an anthropology student- the post script lecture was scarily accurate.

[pasifai1985 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent re-read of the original story! True to the ancient Greek myths, seen from Penelope's side. The story is reinterpreted with respect, love, and true knowledge of the subject.