CAIRNS BOOK REVIEW: The Priestess and the Slave by Jenny Blackford (Hadley Rille Books) 

This is a small book but an interesting one if you've got a thing for ancient history. The premise is to follow the lives of two women living in the same time – fifth century BC – in the same place, Greece, but from two completely different perspectives. The women are separated by 60 years but their stories resonate and complement each other despite this.  The priestess is Thrasulla, a woman in her fifties who is a Delphic oracle, dedicated to the god Apollo. Her life revolves around her sister priestesses, trips to the temple to interpret the will of the god for the benefit of the, usually rich, locals.  The slave is Harmonia, born into slavery but lucky enough to have her twin sister with her, she's nonetheless endured a fair bit of hardship including terrible beatings as a child. She suffers through the plague of Athens six decades after Thrasulla's suffering in the political turmoil of her time. Harmonia's story follows events in history from the perspective of the bottom-most in society, while Thrasulla's story tracks history from the highest echelons. Priestess is the first in what's planned to be a series of historically accurate tales, the publisher calls it the 'Archaeology Series – archaeologically-accurate short novels about the daily lives of ancient people living and coping with real historical crises'.  While the accuracy is detailed and runs throughout the novel, it is not particularly irritating if you have any interest in history at all. However, the relentless detailing of historical daily life does give the book a vaguely educational feel. Not that this is an entirely bad thing, but readers who prefer a more action-based read may find it off-putting. Although this is nominally an adult novel, young adult readers won't be put off – it's small enough to slip into a backpack and it would certainly add to an understanding of the time period if you're doing ancient history at school. The women's stories are written with feeling and emotion and what stands out is the knowledge that women's lives have recurring themes down the ages and at all ages – family, love, security, self-will and independence.  Blackford has a nice turn of phrase, the women's interior monologues are personal and yet fit to their time; the 'action scenes' aren't flashy but overall tone is one of liveliness.  Verdict: If you have even a vague interest in ancient Greek history, The Priestess and the Slave is worth having a look at. While it's not an earth-shattering debut for Blackford – this is her first full-length novel – it's a sold start and will hopefully lead to more.

 

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