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The Children of Jocasta

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The Children of Jocasta

By: Natalie Haynes
Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
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About this listen

A powerful retelling of Oedipus and Antigone from the perspectives of the women the myths overlooked, from Natalie Haynes, the Women's Prize-shortlisted author of A Thousand Ships and the Sunday Times bestseller Stone Blind.

My siblings and I have grown up in a cursed house, children of cursed parents . . .

Jocasta is just fifteen when she is told that she must marry the King of Thebes, an old man she has never met. Her life has never been her own, and nor will it be, unless she outlives her strange, absent husband.

Ismene is the same age when she is attacked in the palace she calls home. Since the day of her parents' tragic deaths a decade earlier, she has always longed to feel safe with the family she still has. But with a single act of violence, all that is about to change.

With the turn of these two events, a tragedy is set in motion. But not as you know it.

'Haynes balances a fresh take on the material . . . giving new voice to the often-overlooked but fascinating Jocasta and Ismene.' - Madeline Miller, author of Circe.

©Natalie Haynes 2018 (P)2018 Macmillan Digital Audio Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Magic
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Haynes takes the story of Jocasta, and her children, retells it from different points of view. Don't expect the exact myth and plays you know, but like the Greek Poets and Playwrights this is a new version of the story.

Great retelling of greek myth and plays

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The Greek plays have always been something I enjoyed. so few have survived and so many story threads have been lost it is lovely to find a retelling that melds so many ideas together. This was such an enthralling story. For once not knowing Antigone and Ismene fate was good. It was like meeting an old friend who's stories you love but have heard before and you discover they have gone on new adventures and have new tales.

a superb retelling.

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another great book from this author & great narration aswell. loved the story, had to keep listening

addictive

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I loved this book and didn't want it to finish. The story caught my imagination.

Beautiful written and read

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This book started slow but really hooked me in and finished strong ,the characters developed in time

Fall into this story

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Essentially ignorant of the story, it was bliss to have the plot wash over me and the intricacies weave their way through my imagination. Such a wonderful book! Excellent execution...ummm...yes! both the writing and the performance. Simply brilliant.

Illuminatingly brilliant!

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Excellent read! Well worth listening to. Strong female characters and an interesting take on a very famous story.

Great retelling

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Of course i did only do one chapter and skimmed others to realise it wasn't getting better for my tastes. But not to say others more academic wouldn’t be able to sit thru it. Just repetitive.
Want a refund! Says st the start of membership you can return if you don’t want to read it. Apparently NOT.

Can’t return

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