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Circe

The stunning new anniversary edition from the author of international bestseller The Song of Achilles
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( 1,165,759 ratings, 114,679 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Circe by Madeline Miller is a reimagining of the myth of Circe, the enchantress from Homer's Odyssey. The novel explores her transformation from a nymph to a powerful witch, delving into themes of identity, power, and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of ancient Greek mythology, it portrays her encounters with gods, monsters, and mortals.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by Greek mythology and love stories of strong, complex female characters. The narrative offers a fresh and intimate perspective on a well-known myth, blending history and magic in a beautifully written and engaging tale.

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Circe

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Circe, the critically acclaimed novel by Madeline Miller, reimagines the legendary life of Circe, the powerful enchantress from Greek mythology. In the house of Helios, god of the sun, a daughter is born. Circe is a peculiar child, neither mighty like her father nor beautiful and cunning like her mother. Scorned and rejected, she grows up in the shadows, belonging to neither the world of gods nor mortals. As Circe discovers her darker powers—practising witchcraft, casting potent spells, brewing magical potions, and taming wild beasts—her talents threaten the deities, leading to her banishment on the remote island of Aiaia.

On Aiaia, Circe hones her mystical abilities and embraces her solitude, yet a woman who stands alone is inevitably a magnet for both friend and foe. Unexpectedly, her island becomes a sanctuary for various mythical beings and mortals, including the cunning hero Odysseus, for whom Circe dares to risk everything. Her interactions with Odysseus, and others who cross her path, lead to a series of profound encounters that reshape her understanding of her powers, her identity, and her place in a world ruled by men and gods alike.

Madeline Miller's Circe weaves a compelling tale of family strife, love's elusive nature, and the fraught journey from isolation to self-acceptance. The novel is a vivid, spellbinding epic capturing the timeless struggle of a woman's steadfast pursuit of empowerment and agency amidst a patriarchal cosmos. Circe's story emerges as an indomitable anthem of resilience, echoing through the annals of mythological lore.

The international Number One bestseller from the author of The Song of Achilles, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Woman. Witch. Myth. Mortal. Outcast. Lover. Destroyer. Survivor. CIRCE.

THE NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Chosen as a Book of the Year by the Guardian, Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, I Paper, Sunday Express, Irish Times, Times Literary Supplement, Amazon, Audible, BuzzFeed, Refinery 29, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Seattle Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, People, Entertainment Weekly, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Goodreads.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Circe by Madeline Miller has been widely praised for its enchanting and spellbinding narrative, beloved by many for its rich prose and refreshing feminist perspective on Greek mythology. Reviewers have noted its modern and bold retelling of the myth, highlighting the complex and sympathetic portrayal of the protagonist. Critics have called it a literary sensation, with compelling characterisation and beautifully descriptive writing that makes it a page-turner.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781408890042

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 352

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
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A
Alex M.
Excellent summer read

If you can read this novel with a view of the sea in front of you - all the better - but otherwise this dreamy, romantic and personable tale of the Greek myth of Circe is a fantastic summer read (or a winter read - make sure there is a storm outside!). Very cool to see the events of the Odyssey through the eyes of someone else - what would it be like to exist in a world of gods?

About the Author

Madeline Miller is the author of The Song of Achilles, which won the Orange Prize for Fiction 2012, was shortlisted for the Stonewall Writer of the Year 2012, was an instant New York Times bestseller, and was translated into twenty-five languages. Miller holds an MA in Classics from Brown University, and she taught Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students for over a decade. She lives outside Philadelphia. madelinemiller.com

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