The Spoils of Troy

The Troy Quartet #3

by Lindsay Clarke, Jonathan Keeble (Reading)

PART THREE OF THE TROY QUARTET

Bringing ancient myth to life with passion, humour, and humanity, Lindsay Clarke vividly retells the story of Troy and of the heroes who fought there.

Troy has fallen. After ten years of fighting and a savage final massacre, the victors quarrel over what remains and turn their minds to home.

Menelaus must decide the fate of Helen, whose incomparable beauty ignited the war. And Agamemnon must return to the fury of Clytaemnestra, who has neither forgotten nor forgiven his choice to sacrifice their daughter.

‘An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire’
Mary Beard

1 – A PRINCE OF TROY
2 – THE WAR AT TROY
3 – THE SPOILS OF TROY
4 – THE RETURN FROM TROY

Genres: Historical Fiction, Greek Mythology, Audiobook

Audio CD

Published February 15, 2021

About the author

Lindsay Clarke is a British novelist. He was educated at Heath Grammar School in Halifax and at King's College Cambridge. He worked in education for many years, in Africa, America and the UK, before becoming a full-time writer. He currently lives in Somerset with his wife, Phoebe Clare, who is a ceramic artist. Clarke lectures in creative writing at Cardiff University, and teaches writing workshops in London and Bath. Four radio plays were broadcast by BBC Radio 4, and a number of his articles and reviews have been published in 'Resurgence' and 'The London Magazine.' Lindsay has one daughter from his first marriage.

His novel The Chymical Wedding, partly inspired by the life of Mary Anne Atwood, won the Whitbread Prize in 1989. Clarke's most recent novel is THE WATER THEATRE (published in September 2010 by Alma Booka), of which a review by Antonia Senior in THE TIMES of 28 August said "There is nothing small about this book. It is huge in scope, in energy, in heart...It is difficult to remember a recent book that is at once so beautiful and yet so thought provoking."

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the story you hear of most, as the fighting for Troy at this point is already over. However, Clarke is able to make a very coherent, interesting 'after'-story with multiple new red threads happening. Excited for the final 4th book!

[Mila N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, which is crazy because I hate almost everyone in it and everything they do.
The empathy Lindsay Clarke shows for his female characters keeps drawing me back in, though.

I was not expecting to feel that spiritual connection between Cassandra and Iphigenia, for example. Or to see Agamemnon be killed by Clytemnestra on his own and not in his bed next to Cassandra (which is how I imagined they would die given Cassandra's prophecies).

Every book I read from this Quartet just gets me more excited to read more retellings and the classic plays as well, I can't believe it's not more famous.

On to the last one now.

[Tanzey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this third part of the Greek myth series which I am really enjoying. I am listening on audio and the narrator really brings the people and the saga to life. It is rather gory and violent in parts but I suppose that is to be expected given the subject matter ( the fall and looting of Troy by the Greeks) I particularly like to exploration of the various characters and their inner feelings and motives. This is a great way to become familiar with these stories. I looking forward to part four.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have been the end of the series, and it would have been a rousing completion. Lindsay Clarke writes some fine battle scenes of necessary bronze age gore, and he keeps the tension high. Even though we know Troy falls, how it falls, and how the characters on both sides are kept occupied is what makes the story. Mr. Clarke does well.

This takes us to the unfortunate Return from Troy - book four - of which see...

[I'mogén · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight into this from book 2 and it was once again informative and interesting.
Serverd as background noise for me, much like The War of Troy so don't have much to say on exact details, however I will say, I really enjoyed getting more of a perspective from Cassandra; the priestess cursed by Apollo to have the power of sight, yet for noone to believe her warnings and predictions.

Overall, was enjoyed.

(Very enthusiastic narrator, which was quite fun)

Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

not as engaging as the first two, but still a great read.

[Beaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give it 3.5 if I could. Didn’t enjoy as much as the earlier ones but was still very good in places

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly underwhelming account of the fall of Troy, and the death of Agamemnon.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some sections were definitely much more interesting than others, and so on the strength of those I’d say 4-stars.