I read The Women of Troy by Pat Baker as research for my story with mythical inspiration. Lately, I have read a lot of retellings of Greek and Roman myths, but The Women of Troy was one of the few that stood out.
The main character is Bresei, who we follow as she navigates the camp outside of the fallen Troy not long after the end of the war. The women of the camp are Troyan, but all the men are Greek. All the Troyan men and male children have been killed, except a priest and the Troyan King’s son who betrayed him. Most of the women are now slaves, regardless of their status before the war. Some of them are lucky to have gained some status and protection by being married off to Greek fighters. The difference is not significant. Bresei is one of the lucky women.
The entire camp is waiting for the wind to turn so that they can sail back to Greece. It has become such a natural part of everyday life that people have started to forget what it’s like when the wind isn’t howling. The Gods must have been offended and until they have been appeased the ships are stuck in the bay below the ruined city of Troy.
This is the first book I’ve read that fictionalises the legends of the Greeks. It was interesting to read about such familiar names, yet have them be human, not legends. At the same time, it was difficult to reconcile the view of women in this society. They have no value, barely seen as humans, even those with some status. They are pawns and possessions in the war.
What I did like was the women’s resourcefulness. How they managed and won status and favour on their own terms. As with all societies that minimise women, there is a world that the men don’t even know about, that flourishes right under their noses. Women of sense help and protect each other with what means they have. Bresei, with her status as a married and pregnant woman, can move around the camp – observing, aiding, and building communities among the other women.
The real strength of historical fiction, whether reimagining myths or real life, is the ability to make the location, the times and the people appear real. Baker accomplishes this very well. As a reader, I walked through that camp with Besei.
It must be said however that the view of women and the way they are treated, is appalling. If you are someone who feels strongly about “me too,” and have bad experiences relating to that, this might not be a book for you. If you can stomach reading about a society where women have less value than livestock, this is a very well-told story.
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