Daughters of Sparta
USA National Bestseller
US release: 22 June 2021
UK release: 22 July 2021
“Helen of Troy and her sister Klytemnestra are reimagined in this gorgeous retelling of the classic Greek myth – not as women defined by their husbands and lovers but as battle-weary survivors of a patriarchal society who take control of their own destiny. Absolutely riveting!”
— Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist
Two sisters parted. Two women blamed. Two stories reclaimed.
As princesses of Sparta, Helen and Klytemnestra have known nothing but luxury and plenty. With their high birth and unrivalled beauty, they are the envy of all of Greece. Such privilege comes at a high price, though, and their destinies are not theirs to command. While still only girls they are separated and married off to legendary foreign kings Agamemnon and Menelaos, never to meet again. Their duty is now to give birth to the heirs society demands and be the meek, submissive queens their men expect.
But when the weight of their husbands’ neglect, cruelty and ambition becomes too heavy to bear, they must push against the constraints of their sex to carve new lives for themselves – and in doing so make waves that will ripple throughout the next three thousand years.
Perfect for readers of Circe and Ariadne, Daughters of Sparta is a vivid and illuminating retelling of the Siege of Troy that tells the story of mythology’s most vilified women.
Praise for Daughters of Sparta
“Heywood’s wondrous retelling of the lives of two ancient princesses struggling for independence and agency in a patriarchal society resonates deeply in today’s imperfect world. Required reading for fans of Circe, and a remarkable, thrilling debut.”
— Fiona Davis
New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
“An immersive, intimate take on a well-known tale. By focussing on the diverging fates of two sisters, Heywood reveals the private lives of these women to be just as compelling as the epic events unfolding around them.”
— Amanda Block
author of The Lost Story Teller
“Heywood breathes new life into two central figures of the Greco-Roman tradition… [and] certainly achieves the feat of giving rich interiority to women who are often treated as little more than symbols. Feminist mythmaking.”
— Kirkus (read here)
“This is my favorite version yet of this oft-told tale, making dimensional and persuasive characters of much-mythologized women. Highly recommended.”
— Historical Novel Society, Editor’s Choice (read here)
“Fluent and persuasive. I admire the ambition with which Heywood tackles the subject, to which she brings freshness and verve. I enjoyed it very much.”
— Elizabeth Buchan
award-winning author of Consider the Lily
“Readers intimately familiar with the mythology and those new to this classic story alike will find themselves breathlessly turning the pages… An utterly spellbinding historical yarn.”
— Booklist starred review (read here)
“A vividly written and compelling retelling that brings the Spartan princesses to life with all the human fortitude and foibles you’d expect from flesh and blood people.”
— Culturefly featured review (read here)
“The perfect balance between historical authenticity and characters who I really connected with . . . Brilliantly compelling”
— Sarah Bonner
author of Her Perfect Twin
Book Club Kit
Dutton’s Book Club Kit includes an introduction by Claire Heywood, discussion questions and an author interview.
Translated Editions
Also coming soon: Russian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Romanian
US release: 22 June 2021
UK release: 22 July 2021
“Helen of Troy and her sister Klytemnestra are reimagined in this gorgeous retelling of the classic Greek myth – not as women defined by their husbands and lovers but as battle-weary survivors of a patriarchal society who take control of their own destiny. Absolutely riveting!”
— Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist
Two sisters parted. Two women blamed. Two stories reclaimed.
As princesses of Sparta, Helen and Klytemnestra have known nothing but luxury and plenty. With their high birth and unrivalled beauty, they are the envy of all of Greece. Such privilege comes at a high price, though, and their destinies are not theirs to command. While still only girls they are separated and married off to legendary foreign kings Agamemnon and Menelaos, never to meet again. Their duty is now to give birth to the heirs society demands and be the meek, submissive queens their men expect.
But when the weight of their husbands’ neglect, cruelty and ambition becomes too heavy to bear, they must push against the constraints of their sex to carve new lives for themselves – and in doing so make waves that will ripple throughout the next three thousand years.
Perfect for readers of Circe and Ariadne, Daughters of Sparta is a vivid and illuminating retelling of the Siege of Troy that tells the story of mythology’s most vilified women.
Praise for Daughters of Sparta
“Heywood’s wondrous retelling of the lives of two ancient princesses struggling for independence and agency in a patriarchal society resonates deeply in today’s imperfect world. Required reading for fans of Circe, and a remarkable, thrilling debut.”
— Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
“An immersive, intimate take on a well-known tale. By focussing on the diverging fates of two sisters, Heywood reveals the private lives of these women to be just as compelling as the epic events unfolding around them.”
— Amanda Block, author of The Lost Story Teller
“Fluent and persuasive. I admire the ambition with which Heywood tackles the subject, to which she brings freshness and verve. I enjoyed it very much.”
— Elizabeth Buchan, award-winning author of Consider the Lily
“This is my favorite version yet of this oft-told tale, making dimensional and persuasive characters of much-mythologized women. Highly recommended.”
— Historical Novel Society, Editor’s Choice (read here)
“Heywood breathes new life into two central figures of the Greco-Roman tradition… [and] certainly achieves the feat of giving rich interiority to women who are often treated as little more than symbols. Feminist mythmaking.”
— Kirkus (read here)
“Readers intimately familiar with the mythology and those new to this classic story alike will find themselves breathlessly turning the pages… An utterly spellbinding historical yarn.”
— Booklist starred review (read here)
“The perfect balance between historical authenticity and characters who I really connected with . . . Brilliantly compelling”
— Sarah Bonner, author of Her Perfect Twin
“A vividly written and compelling retelling that brings the Spartan princesses to life with all the human fortitude and foibles you’d expect from flesh and blood people.”
— Culturefly featured review (read here)
Book Club Kit
Dutton’s Book Club Kit includes an introduction by Claire Heywood, discussion questions and an author interview.
Translated Editions
Also coming soon: Russian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Romanian
Daughters of Sparta
USA National Bestseller
US release: 22 June 2021
UK release: 22 July 2021
“Helen of Troy and her sister Klytemnestra are reimagined in this gorgeous retelling of the classic Greek myth – not as women defined by their husbands and lovers but as battle-weary survivors of a patriarchal society who take control of their own destiny. Absolutely riveting!”
— Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist
Two sisters parted. Two women blamed. Two stories reclaimed.
As princesses of Sparta, Helen and Klytemnestra have known nothing but luxury and plenty. With their high birth and unrivalled beauty, they are the envy of all of Greece. Such privilege comes at a high price, though, and their destinies are not theirs to command. While still only girls they are separated and married off to legendary foreign kings Agamemnon and Menelaos, never to meet again. Their duty is now to give birth to the heirs society demands and be the meek, submissive queens their men expect.
But when the weight of their husbands’ neglect, cruelty and ambition becomes too heavy to bear, they must push against the constraints of their sex to carve new lives for themselves – and in doing so make waves that will ripple throughout the next three thousand years.
Perfect for readers of Circe and Ariadne, Daughters of Sparta is a vivid and illuminating retelling of the Siege of Troy that tells the story of mythology’s most vilified women.
Praise for Daughters of Sparta
“Heywood’s wondrous retelling of the lives of two ancient princesses struggling for independence and agency in a patriarchal society resonates deeply in today’s imperfect world. Required reading for fans of Circe, and a remarkable, thrilling debut.”
— Fiona Davis,
New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
“An immersive, intimate take on a well-known tale. By focussing on the diverging fates of two sisters, Heywood reveals the private lives of these women to be just as compelling as the epic events unfolding around them.”
— Amanda Block
author of The Lost Story Teller
“Fluent and persuasive. I admire the ambition with which Heywood tackles the subject, to which she brings freshness and verve. I enjoyed it very much.”
— Elizabeth Buchan
award-winning author of Consider the Lily
“This is my favorite version yet of this oft-told tale, making dimensional and persuasive characters of much-mythologized women. Highly recommended.”
— Historical Novel Society, Editor’s Choice (read here)
“Heywood breathes new life into two central figures of the Greco-Roman tradition… [and] certainly achieves the feat of giving rich interiority to women who are often treated as little more than symbols. Feminist mythmaking.”
— Kirkus (read here)
“Readers intimately familiar with the mythology and those new to this classic story alike will find themselves breathlessly turning the pages… An utterly spellbinding historical yarn.”
— Booklist starred review
“The perfect balance between historical authenticity and characters who I really connected with . . . Brilliantly compelling”
— Sarah Bonner
author of Her Perfect Twin
“A vividly written and compelling retelling that brings the Spartan princesses to life with all the human fortitude and foibles you’d expect from flesh and blood people.”
— Culturefly featured review (read here)
Book Club Kit
Dutton’s Book Club Kit includes an introduction by Claire Heywood, discussion questions and an author interview.
Translated Editions
Also coming soon: Russian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Romanian
