gilda_elise

Taylor Caldwell's novel, set in ancient Persia and Greece, is based on the life of Aspasia—the beautiful and intelligent courtesan who eventually became the companion of Pericles, ruler of Athens.

It is the story of an extraordinary woman, trained since childhood in the arts of beauty and seduction, who finds herself increasingly in rebellion against the helpless position of women in ancient society.

Passionate, restless and fiercely independent, Aspasia is compelled to pursue her destiny wherever it may lead—from the narrow confines of a school for high-class courtesans, into the arms of a rich and powerful Persian satrap, and finally to Athens at the height of its glory.

Taylor Caldwell has written a rich and thought-provoking novel of the ancient world as seen through a woman's eyes—finding in the life of Aspasia a model for the timeless conflicts of all women.

The book is divided into three parts: Aspasia’s story, Pericles’ story, and their story together. Aspasia’s story is probably the most interesting, though I felt that Caldwell went a little overboard describing Aspasia’s beauty, intelligence, and pose. Even at fourteen, she has her out-debating scholars and just about anyone she meets. At the same time, Aspasia does some really dumb things. She ends up being “sold” to a middle eastern satrap, who she ends up falling in love with. But both are unwilling to show their love, and eventually Aspasia escapes back to Greece.

Pericles’ story isn’t as detailed. Not as far as his personal life anyway. But a great deal of space is taken up in discussions with fellow intellectuals. It was at this point that I started skimming through his story. Near the end of his story, he meets Aspasia.

Their story together is told at breakneck speed. And it’s told as sort of a novelized history. What’s going on around them appears more important than their own story, yet told by the characters. At times I felt as if I was being given a history lesson. And again I found myself skimming through discussions between the major characters. In the end, both their story, and the story of Athens, are given short shrift.

A totally odd addition to the story line was Aspasia’s devotion to “the unknown god.” She even manages to bring several of her contemporaries to her way of thinking. Too often it sounds as if she discovered Christianity before Christ.

The one good thing about the book is that it piqued my interest regarding this interesting couple and the world they lived in. The books I’ve read regarding Classical Greece, have had neither playing a large role.