A Washington Post Notable Book
One of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, The Economist, Financial Times

Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award
Finalist for the Womens Prize for Fiction

Here is the story of the Iliad as weve never heard it before: in the words of Briseis, Trojan queen and captive of Achilles. Given only a few words in Homers epic and largely erased by history, she is nonetheless a pivotal figure in the Trojan War. In these pages she comes fully to life: wry, watchful, forging connections among her fellow female prisoners even as she is caught between Greeces two most powerful warriors. Her story pulls back the veil on the thousands of women who lived behind the scenes of the Greek army campconcubines, nurses, prostitutes, the women who lay out the deadas gods and mortals spar, and as a legendary war hurtles toward its inevitable conclusion. Brilliantly written, filled with moments of terror and beauty, The Silence of the Girls gives voice to an extraordinary womanand makes an ancient story new again.