&
Advertise Here with Today.com
 

Aug 15 2008

Stealing Athena

Published by Carrie at 10:05 pm under Books, Reviews Edit This

stealing-athena.jpg

Stealing Athena by Karen Essex tells the story of two historical women, two women whose names I had never heard before picking up this book, but whose stories are fascinating.

Mary Nesbit convinces her father to allow her to marry Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, because she desires to marry for love. Her father is not convinced of his worthiness - especially financially - but agrees to the match. Very shortly after marrying, Lord Elgin is named the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and they set off for Constantinople.

While acting as ambassador to the Turks, Elgin is determined to rescue the famous Parthenon marbles in Athens, Greece, before Napoleon can get his hands on them. The Turks have devastated the Acropolis, sometimes crushing the marbles and using the materials for building homes, other times melting down the lead in the statues for bullets. Elgin is consumed with his plan to bring the marbles back to Britain and establish Britain as a leader in the Fine Arts movement.

According to the novel, Elgin would have failed miserably in his plan without the charms and financial resources of his intelligent wife, Mary. She uses her wits and her money to help her husband achieve his goals, even while his body is deteriorating from what was probably syphilis. (Both he and his doctor told his wife that he suffered from rheumatism.)

Set against this story of the Elgins and their removal of the marbles is the story of Aspasia, lover of Pericles, the man who commissioned the marbles to be crafted during the glory days of Athens.

It was interesting to see how much the fates of women were similar in these two historical eras, even though centuries passed between their lives. Women were not expected to be intelligent, educated, or opinionated. In Mary’s case, her husband loved her charm and beauty when it was benefiting his ambassadorship and plans for the marbles, but was also constantly jealous of the attention other men paid her.

Aspasia was not allowed to marry Pericles, because of a law Pericles himself had passed prohibiting Athenians from marrying foreigners. She lived with Pericles as his wife, but was considered a disrepectful woman who was too opinionated and had too much influence on Pericles.

Both women underwent public trials because of the choices they made in their lives. Neither woman allowed herself to be destroyed by the public and private persecution.

Essex is an extremely talented author. Stealing Athena is well-researched, and it kept my interest all the way through. I was fascinated to learn the stories of these women and how they impacted history in spite of their gender. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction - especially the work of Susan Vreeland and Tracy Chevalier - would enjoy this book.

4 out of 5 stars

Here is a video of Karen Essex reading a passage from her novel and talking about her inspiration for the work:



Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • TwitThis
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Google
  • YahooMyWeb
Possibly-related Articles:                                        (auto-generated)
Advertise Here with Today.com

186 Responses to “Stealing Athena”

  1. Carrieon 16 Aug 2008 at 9:28 pm edit this

    Framed - I hope you enjoy it!

  2. Carrieon 23 Aug 2008 at 12:32 am edit this

    Bookworm - it’s a great read. :)

  3. adipex p phentermine vson 06 Oct 2009 at 11:09 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  4. phentermine diet menuon 06 Oct 2009 at 1:02 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  5. forum drug phentermineon 06 Oct 2009 at 2:55 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  6. lexapro and adipexon 06 Oct 2009 at 4:46 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  7. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  8. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  9. pijnstiller tramadolon 06 Oct 2009 at 10:23 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  10. tramadol thailandon 07 Oct 2009 at 12:17 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  11. adipex libidoon 07 Oct 2009 at 2:10 am edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  12. I want to say - thank you for this!

  13. Koennon 07 Oct 2009 at 2:40 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.,

  14. Frelabethon 07 Oct 2009 at 2:42 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!,

  15. Adirakothon 07 Oct 2009 at 6:40 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!,

  16. ranitidine tramadolon 11 Oct 2009 at 12:26 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  17. Incredible site!

  18. valtrex nasonex tramadolon 11 Oct 2009 at 4:10 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  19. opiniones de cialison 11 Oct 2009 at 6:01 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  20. average weight loss for adipexon 11 Oct 2009 at 7:52 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  21. adipex user reviewson 11 Oct 2009 at 9:44 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  22. I want to say - thank you for this!

  23. shop adipex buy checkson 12 Oct 2009 at 1:30 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  24. Beautiful site!

  25. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  26. tramadol mixed with alcoholon 12 Oct 2009 at 7:11 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  27. tramadol mixed with neurontinon 12 Oct 2009 at 9:06 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  28. buy axcion phentermineon 12 Oct 2009 at 11:00 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  29. cheap genric cialison 12 Oct 2009 at 12:54 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  30. fun with tramadolon 12 Oct 2009 at 2:47 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  31. cialis ed health manon 12 Oct 2009 at 4:41 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  32. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  33. cialis in dublinon 12 Oct 2009 at 8:34 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  34. nextday tramadol codon 12 Oct 2009 at 10:26 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  35. Beautiful site!

  36. cialis user reviewson 13 Oct 2009 at 2:19 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  37. what is herbal phentermineon 13 Oct 2009 at 4:16 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  38. cialis theme songon 13 Oct 2009 at 6:12 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  39. adipex pay with e check onlyon 13 Oct 2009 at 8:08 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  40. mental side effects of somaon 13 Oct 2009 at 10:05 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  41. uses for phentermineon 14 Oct 2009 at 12:01 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  42. order medicine phentermineon 14 Oct 2009 at 1:58 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  43. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  44. xanax buy electronic checkon 14 Oct 2009 at 5:51 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  45. phentermine mexico pharmacyon 14 Oct 2009 at 7:47 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  46. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  47. xanax valumon 14 Oct 2009 at 11:39 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  48. cialis europe cheap viagraon 14 Oct 2009 at 1:37 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  49. addiction to tramadolon 14 Oct 2009 at 3:34 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  50. exercising after taking cialison 14 Oct 2009 at 5:31 pm edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  51. Incredible site!

  52. lavitra versus cialison 14 Oct 2009 at 9:27 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  53. tramadol homeon 14 Oct 2009 at 11:23 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  54. xanax before presentationon 15 Oct 2009 at 1:23 am edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  55. fedex overnight xanaxon 15 Oct 2009 at 3:22 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  56. cialis multiple erectionon 16 Oct 2009 at 1:39 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  57. tramadol on empty stomachon 16 Oct 2009 at 3:37 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  58. Great site. Keep doing.

  59. tramadol withdrawal remedieson 16 Oct 2009 at 7:30 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  60. cialis beogradon 16 Oct 2009 at 9:26 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  61. journaux sp cialis son 16 Oct 2009 at 11:23 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  62. buy adipex p ships fedexon 17 Oct 2009 at 1:18 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  63. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  64. chemical structure of tramadolon 17 Oct 2009 at 5:10 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  65. mixing cialis with alcoholon 17 Oct 2009 at 7:06 am edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  66. Beautiful site!

  67. drug called tramadolon 17 Oct 2009 at 10:56 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  68. cialis levitra pharmacy viagraon 17 Oct 2009 at 12:53 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  69. buy cheap ciali son 17 Oct 2009 at 2:52 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  70. instant release tramadolon 17 Oct 2009 at 4:50 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  71. tramadol drug classificationon 17 Oct 2009 at 6:47 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  72. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  73. metabolism of phentermineon 17 Oct 2009 at 10:41 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  74. tramadol ampouleson 18 Oct 2009 at 12:52 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  75. cheapest tramadol codon 18 Oct 2009 at 2:52 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  76. cialis side effects depressionon 20 Oct 2009 at 12:49 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  77. tramadol pregnancy categoryon 20 Oct 2009 at 2:43 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  78. uso cialison 20 Oct 2009 at 4:36 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  79. vomiting in adipexon 20 Oct 2009 at 6:30 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  80. cod tramadol 200on 20 Oct 2009 at 8:24 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  81. using tramadol to get highon 20 Oct 2009 at 10:19 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  82. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  83. Great site. Keep doing.

  84. tramadol duloxetineon 21 Oct 2009 at 5:12 am edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  85. phentermine cod's acceptedon 21 Oct 2009 at 7:09 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  86. xanax strengths and doseson 21 Oct 2009 at 9:05 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  87. do people snort tramadolon 21 Oct 2009 at 11:02 am edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  88. cialis is a genericon 21 Oct 2009 at 12:58 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  89. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  90. Perfect site, i like it!

  91. order adipex sent to virginiaon 21 Oct 2009 at 6:50 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  92. sun city pharmacy phentermineon 21 Oct 2009 at 8:47 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  93. marshgaskion 21 Oct 2009 at 8:48 pm edit this

    work scientists responsible likely differing causes events

  94. brantonmidon 21 Oct 2009 at 8:50 pm edit this

    keep estimate temperature web possible decade slowly

  95. tramadol medication dogson 21 Oct 2009 at 10:44 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  96. warning prozac and phentermineon 22 Oct 2009 at 12:41 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  97. retail prices for cialison 22 Oct 2009 at 2:41 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  98. tramadol insufflationon 24 Oct 2009 at 2:25 am edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  99. xanax and verbal abuseon 24 Oct 2009 at 4:22 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  100. adipex amex american expresson 24 Oct 2009 at 6:18 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  101. yahoo guy phentermineon 24 Oct 2009 at 8:15 am edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  102. where can i purchase adipexon 24 Oct 2009 at 10:11 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  103. phentermine tanningon 24 Oct 2009 at 12:07 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  104. is adipex speedon 24 Oct 2009 at 2:04 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  105. very cheap tramadol codon 24 Oct 2009 at 4:01 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  106. free sample cialison 24 Oct 2009 at 5:57 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  107. cialis propafenoneon 24 Oct 2009 at 9:44 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  108. drug classification tramadolon 25 Oct 2009 at 1:15 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  109. Grouselgspuon 25 Oct 2009 at 1:18 am edit this

    ybszpfotxigalvhm pheasantsxrnfh monitors prose senators tests falcons wagers ladies tasks preachers sea pipers stairs builders riches brush aircraft maps bullfinches developers actors curlews painters guillemots cobblers angels kite troops barons onlookers submarines cyclists satellites lorries cash tourists lapwings impediments thieves guinness young money pearls tennis women show books circuits harpers snipe bacteria athletes hares men stem grapes

  110. cialis blood cloton 25 Oct 2009 at 4:54 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  111. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  112. tramadol $85on 25 Oct 2009 at 8:51 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  113. rx list phentermineon 25 Oct 2009 at 10:49 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  114. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  115. does adipex work blogon 25 Oct 2009 at 3:18 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  116. adipex p on find articleson 25 Oct 2009 at 5:41 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  117. xanax discriptionon 25 Oct 2009 at 7:39 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  118. canada drugson 27 Oct 2009 at 10:17 am edit this

    grace your site.

  119. adipex factson 27 Oct 2009 at 1:48 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  120. Beautiful site!

  121. Perfect work!

  122. no prescition xanaxon 27 Oct 2009 at 7:41 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  123. cialis daily vs prnon 27 Oct 2009 at 9:36 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  124. Great site. Good info.

  125. tramadol hcl apapon 28 Oct 2009 at 1:40 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  126. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  127. tramadol interaction paxilon 28 Oct 2009 at 7:51 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  128. is tramadol morphine basedon 28 Oct 2009 at 9:47 am edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  129. tcater adipex 619on 28 Oct 2009 at 11:44 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  130. Perfect site, i like it!

  131. 100 mg cialison 28 Oct 2009 at 3:37 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  132. cheap viagra without a pron 28 Oct 2009 at 5:33 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  133. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  134. no preseciption adipexon 28 Oct 2009 at 9:27 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  135. cheap soma canadaon 28 Oct 2009 at 11:30 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  136. psoriasis tramadolon 29 Oct 2009 at 4:46 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  137. symptomes sevrage xanaxon 29 Oct 2009 at 6:44 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  138. tramadol and vomitingon 29 Oct 2009 at 8:41 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  139. I want to say - thank you for this!

  140. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  141. tramadol versus percoseton 30 Oct 2009 at 7:03 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  142. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  143. tramadol and weight gainon 30 Oct 2009 at 10:51 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  144. Allegra Don 30 Oct 2009 at 11:50 pm edit this

    grace site yaor two.

  145. Perfect work!

  146. Incredible site!

  147. cialis en alcoholon 31 Oct 2009 at 6:20 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  148. halloweenson 31 Oct 2009 at 6:36 am edit this

    grace site yaor two.

  149. I want to say - thank you for this!

  150. next day air ups tramadol ultramon 31 Oct 2009 at 10:01 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  151. medical tramadolon 31 Oct 2009 at 11:50 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  152. vet meds tramadol 50mgon 31 Oct 2009 at 3:29 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  153. phentermine hci 30mg yellowon 31 Oct 2009 at 5:23 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  154. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  155. tramadol canine taper dosageon 31 Oct 2009 at 9:16 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  156. percaset and alcoholon 01 Nov 2009 at 12:58 am edit this

    hi. I review you site

  157. Great site. Good info.

  158. Perfect site, i like it!

  159. Perfect site, i like it!

  160. how does adipex workon 01 Nov 2009 at 8:44 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  161. Neabednettamyon 02 Nov 2009 at 5:55 pm edit this

    Im a gamer i love playing games

    Flash Games Online at DeoGames.com
    [url=http://www.deogames.com]Flash Games Online[/url]

  162. tramadol and lamotrigineon 04 Nov 2009 at 2:32 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  163. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  164. cialis paraplegiaon 04 Nov 2009 at 6:23 pm edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  165. Perfect site, i like it!

  166. cheap overnight tramadolon 04 Nov 2009 at 10:13 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  167. will tramadol get u highon 05 Nov 2009 at 12:08 am edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  168. tramadol ship uspson 05 Nov 2009 at 2:59 am edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  169. tramadol product monographon 05 Nov 2009 at 5:38 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  170. tramadol stimulaon 05 Nov 2009 at 7:31 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  171. cialis works greaton 05 Nov 2009 at 9:21 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  172. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  173. tramadol brand nameon 05 Nov 2009 at 1:04 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  174. Incredible site!

  175. cialis without prescr1ptionon 05 Nov 2009 at 4:57 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  176. Beautiful site!

  177. i need to buy phentermineon 06 Nov 2009 at 1:00 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  178. xanax effect on neuronson 06 Nov 2009 at 2:50 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  179. Perfect site, i like it!

  180. cialis 20mg buyon 07 Nov 2009 at 4:45 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  181. tramadole hydrocloride 50mgon 07 Nov 2009 at 6:36 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  182. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  183. tramadol detect urinalysison 08 Nov 2009 at 6:08 am edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  184. cialis stops workingon 08 Nov 2009 at 8:00 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  185. how much tramadol can i takeon 08 Nov 2009 at 9:52 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  186. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply

Advertise Here