The Last Song of Penelope (The Songs of Penelope)
In the third and final part of the Songs of Penelope series, Claire North takes us to the Greek island of Ithaca for the return of the wandering hero king, Odysseus, disguised as a beggar. This section of the ancient myth, as told by Homer, has always been the most difficult for me, as a former classical scholar. The reunion with his wife and son was bound to be tricky, Odysseus having been away from the island for twenty years – ten years at Troy and the rest of the time finding his way home while battling with monsters and enchantment. But the ruthless slaughter of Penelope’s maids by the hero because of their supposed collusion with the suitors is troubling, to say the least.
North’s interpretation of these events is nothing short of brilliant – and heartbreaking. Penelope’s sense of outrage at the act and her anger at her ‘macho’ husband and young adult son drive the narrative of a couple who are no longer lovers but strangers.
In North’s version of the myth, Penelope has sagely ruled the island in her husband’s absence, despite being beset by suitors who are eating her out of house and home. Her wisdom and cunning, along with her maids and other women – who are so forgotten in the traditional retelling of the myths – give her the strength to carry on.
Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, narrates the story, enabling us to get inside the heads of the characters. In the hands of less accomplished writers, this could be a confusing mess, but North is at the top of her game. The result is a masterpiece, a must for anyone who loves not only novels in a classical setting but a story which is beautifully written, visceral, unflinching and with a powerful insight into the age-old perceptions of the sexes.
