Penelope of Ithaca

Great Women of Greek Mythology #9

by Mike French, Vittorio Mattioli, Little Miss Grumpy (Cover)

All the world thinks Penelope’s husband is dead. Suitors line up to take his place, but she has no desire for any of them. She is no demure widow waiting to be married off: she is the worthy wife of one of the greatest heroes. Can she keep up her tricks to hold her suitosr off for long enough for Odysseus to return? And even if he does, will her husband be the man she remembers?

GREAT WOMEN OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY is a series of short books for young and old introducing readers to the ancient world through its heroines. These books aim to bring readers on a journey filled with excitment, drama, death and love, all while focussing on the women that have played such an important role in our history yet are still remembered as mere bystanders.

While each book can be read separately, and in any order, there is an underlying thread that ultimately connects all these characters and provides a wider view of what it was to be a woman in the ancient Greek world.

144 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2025

About the author

Mike’s debut novel, The Ascent of Isaac Steward came out in 2011 with Cauliay Publishing and was nominated for The Galaxy National Book Awards which due to an unfortunate clerical error was awarded to Dawn French.

Mike's second novel a dsytopian sci-fi called Blue Friday was released in 2012 by Elsewhen Press and was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award 2013. Convergence, his third book, was released in October 2013 from Elsewhen Press and was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award 2014.

In Nov 2015 Elsewhen Press published Mike's hybrid novel & graphic novel called An Android Awakes with artist Karl Brown.

The sequel Fictional Alignment was published in paperback April 2018.

Mike was also the senior editor and owner of The View From Here literary magazine which closed in Nov 2014.

Reviews

[Roula]

Η Πηνελόπη είναι ένα διαχρονικό σύμβολο πίστης αλλά και εξυπνάδας και πονηριάς . Μια από τις λίγες ιστορίες αυτής της σειράς που έχει ένα happy ending ,έστω και 20 χρόνια μετά ...
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 αστέρια

[Ria]

Following the stories of Medea, Helen, Electra, Antigone, and Ariadne, Penelope stands out as the most poignant exploration of the systemic injustice faced by women in Ancient Greece. This series consistently aims to reclaim these heroines' narratives, justifying their actions by highlighting their overlooked intelligence and the crushing limitations placed upon them. Penelope is depicted as an exceptionally brilliant and strategic woman, yet she is constantly kept in the dark, even by the gods. The goddess Athena repeatedly forcing her into sleep serves as a powerful metaphor for how Penelope’s agency was suppressed. Despite being trapped in an impossible situation with few options, her resilience shines through. Like its predecessors, the book is masterfully written, modern in its delivery yet profoundly authentic to the classical Greek setting. It is a haunting tribute to a woman who outsmarted her world from the shadows.

[Niamh]

4.5

[Ana Salamanca López]

Shorter version of what I read through The Odyssey. I was expecting something a bit deeper. I guess this can come through The Penelopiad of Margaret Atwood.
Overall, nice and smooth reading