What is Little, Brown and Company Madeline Miller "Circe"?
Little, Brown and Company's "Circe" is a novel written by Madeline Miller. The story is a retelling of the Greek myth of the goddess Circe, who is banished to a remote island by her father, the Titan Helios, after she discovers that she possesses the power of witchcraft.
Throughout the story, Circe encounters various famous mythical figures, including the Minotaur and Odysseus, and she uses her powers of witchcraft to manipulate and influence those around her. However, as the story progresses, Circe's powers are tested by those who seek to use them for their own ends.
What sets "Circe" apart from other retellings of the Greek myths is the way in which Miller humanizes the characters, including Circe. The author skillfully portrays the goddess's internal struggles, including her feelings of loneliness and isolation, which make it easy for readers to empathize with her.
Overall, "Circe" is a beautifully written and engaging novel that will satisfy both fans of Greek mythology and those who enjoy character-driven stories. Little, Brown and Company should be commended for publishing such a unique and compelling work of fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions about little, brown and company madeline miller "circe"
Despised by her divine family, Circe discovers her powers of sorcery when she turns a human fisherman into a god. When he spurns her for another nymph, Scylla, Circe transforms her rival into a horrific sea monster who becomes the sourge of all sailors – an act that will haunt Circe for the rest of her life.
Product information
| ASIN | B0B943Z12F |
|---|
| Publisher | Generic (January 1, 2020) |
| Language | English |
| Product Bundle | 800 pages |
| Reading age | 11 years and up |
Circe, like Calypso, is an immortal goddess who seeks to prevent Odysseus from returning home. Also like Calypso, Circe is described as “lustrous” and “the nymph with the lovely braids,” and is first seen weaving at her loom. Circe has magic powers, which she uses to turn some of Odysseus's men into pigs.
Her name is Circe, and she is the golden-eyed daughter of a god. But in Madeline Miller's lyrically written Circe, she is also the most mocked and least cherished member of her family.
- Power, Fear, and Self-Preservation.
- Women, Power, and Misogyny.
- Change, Initiative, and the Self.
- Mortality, Fragility, and Fulfillment.
- Family and Individuality.
feminine
Circe is one of the most compelling feminine figures from the Odyssey. Daughter of the god Helios and the nymph Perses, she makes only a brief appearance in Odysseus' journey but it is one that is full of meaning.
Circe is a wonderfully crafted first person narrative that wove a myriad Greek myths into a captivating story of love, loss and regrets. Written like a memoir in her own voice, the most 'mortal-like' of Helios' divine children, was humanized through relatable and in-depth insights into Circe's thoughts and emotions.
Okay, so full disclosure, this novel doesn't have substantive LGBT+ content (although there is a decidedly queer accent to its conclusion) but it is so exceptionally incredible and we love it so fiercely, we just have to share it with you. Think a feminist retelling of.
The name Circe is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "bird". In Greek myth, Circe, daughter of Helios, the sun, was a sorceress living on the island of Aeaea, who could turn men into animals with her magic wand, which is just what she did to Odysseus's crew in Homer's Odyssey, transforming them into swine.
Okay, so full disclosure, this novel doesn't have substantive LGBT+ content (although there is a decidedly queer accent to its conclusion) but it is so exceptionally incredible and we love it so fiercely, we just have to share it with you. Think a feminist retelling of. Circe blew...
Miller describes her Circe as an “incarnation of male anxiety about female power” - traditionally, she is seen as a “boogey-woman,” an example of what happens when men allow women power: proverbially, they “turn you into pigs.” Miller went on to explain her motive for expanding Circe's story beyond the limited scope of ...
Circe is most well known for turning Odysseus's men into pigs in The Odyssey. Miller does such a wonderful job at developing Circe's character, so in the end we see Circe not as good or bad but human. (It's like Wicked and Maleficent: a retelling of a story from the villain's point of view.)
Readers Guide
- Circe struggles to find a place for herself as a woman in a man's world.
- A central theme of Homer's Odyssey is a longing for “nostos” - homecoming.
- How does Circe's encounter with Prometheus change her?
- Throughout the novel Circe draws distinctions between gods and mortals.
It is a “gripping, sweep-you-off-your-feet experience” and a “homoerotic retelling of a Greek myth likewise steeped in legend and period history.” I mention these things because I was surprised while reading Circe that it feels like a very different book, almost like a different author (though she does throw in a ...
That same dynamic - extraordinary, but grounded in the universal - applies to Circe's next defining experience, which is motherhood. Pregnant by Odysseus, she has crippling morning sickness, and sends the useless nymphs away so she can suffer in private.
Fortunately, Circe was able to trick Odysseus into becoming her lover rather than an animal. Circe and Odysseus did have three children before his return to Ithaca, one of which accidentally kills him later in his life.
