Stealing Athena Stealing Athena Stealing Athena

by Karen Essex

Stealing Athena is the story of two women, separated by centuries but united by their association with some of the world's greatest and most controversial works of art. Aspasia, a philosopherand courtesan to visionary politician Pericles during Athens's Golden Age, defies societal restrictions to become fiercely influential in Athens' power circle. Mary, the Countess of Elgin and a beautiful Scottish heiress, charms the fearsome men of the Ottoman Empire to make possible her husband's costly acquisitions, all the while brazenly defying the social conventions of her time. Both women prevail yet pay a heavy price for theirrebellion. A tale of romance, intrigue, greed, and glory, Stealing Athena" "interweaves the lives of two of history's most beguiling heroines. "Fromthe Trade Paperback edition."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Art, Greece, Historical, British Literature, 18th Century

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

I'm the author of RUN, DARLING, KLEOPATRA, PHARAOH, LEONARDO'S SWANS, STEALING ATHENA, DRACULA IN LOVE, AND BETTIE PAGE: LIFE OF A PINUP LEGEND--All featuring iconic women—powerful women that seduced the world. I am an active screenwriter and an award-winning journalist, dividing my time between Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Europe, where I soak in the atmosphere while writing historical fiction.

Follow me on Substack; History. Sex. Power. https://karenessex.substack.com/subsc...

Or join our chat group on Goodreads, Ask Karen Essex. http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5...
I love hearing from you, Gentle Readers.

Reviews

[Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have been to the British Museum in London you could not have missed the Elgin Marbles, those lovely white carvings taken from the Parthenon in Athens. What you might not have done is imagined the arduous task it was to move them there. In this historical novel Karen Essex has painted the picture for us of the personal lives of the people involved.

In 1799 Lord Elgin was appointed ambassador to Constantinople. He was a newlywed and took his wife, Mary, with him to his post. He was glad to have been given the position because he was an architecture buff and believed that what the Ancient Greeks built was the pinnacle of architectural perfection. At the time, Athens was occupied by the Ottoman Turks. They were camped at the Acropolis and were smashing the marbles to use for building materials, using the core metal to make ammunition. He wanted to make moldings and have drawings done so that those historical buildings would not be lost forever.

Mary was only twenty one and pregnant at the start of this odyssey. But she was a lovely, smart and charming young woman. She won the admiration of the Sultan and other high ranking Turks. The Turks put no value on the ancient buildings in Greece and, as a favor to Mary, ended up allowing the Elgins to remove whatever ancient item they desired from the country.

Removal of the priceless ancient sculptures became an obsession for Lord Elgin. He spent an enormous amount of money extracting the artifacts, becoming deep in debt, causing transportation nightmares, ruining his health and his marriage. All the while competing with Napoleon and the French for artifacts in between the Napoleonic Wars.

While we see the destruction of the Parthenon through Mary's eyes, the author also gives us a glimpse of it's construction through the eyes of Aspasia. She was the mistress of the man behind the building of the Parthenon, Perikles, and a philosopher in her own right. Through her the reader is given a window into the society of ancient Athens and their political structure, which shows us the roots of our own.

Since that time the debate has raged: where do the marbles belong? The Greeks would like them back and have even built a new museum to house them when they return. The British Museum shows no sign of letting them go. It is questionable whether the marbles would even still exist now if they had not been removed when they were.

This is a great historical novel with it's basis in fact. The author did extensive historical research and it shows in the story line. It is a fascinating story of two strong women who had the courage to take control of their own lives.

[Natasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It flowed nicely and was very interesting. I appreciated the descriptions of Constantinople, Athens, Scotland, and England and how the greater context of the Napoleonic Wars and the Golden Age of Greece were so much a part of the stories of these women.

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is the latest entry in the genre that proclaims that behind every mediocre man in history was an equally mediocre woman. Here we have the story of Lord Elgin, chiefly remembered for removing the ancient marble sculptures and friezes that decorated the Parthenon in Athens and transporting them to the British Museum where they remain today. The Greeks are still trying to get them back. This book examines Elgin's story from the point of view of Mary, his feisty Scottish wife.
We also get the story of Pericles who oversaw the construction of the Acropolis from the point of view of his fesity Greek lover Aspasia.
The author knows a lot of history and reams of it are laid out in this overlong saga. We get cameo appearances by Napoleon and his chief diplomat Talleyrand; we get exhaustive descriptions of Ottoman society and titillating glimpses into life in the harem; we get insights into early 19th century medicine and childbirth; we get cameo appearances from Lord Nelson and his lover, Lady Hamilton. But it's all dead -- as dead and cold as the marbles in the British Museum.
Unfortunately, none of the characters come to life. The writing is dull and wordy and feels staid. There seems little evidence of editing and even fewer of real human insight.
Take this example from page 178: Mary has just undergone a difficult birth and now she fears she is dying. The author shares her thoughts at this climactic moment with us, the readers:
"Mary was shaking so hard that she could not make out what he (the doctor) was saying to the midwife, but she knew it was to do with the bleeding that followed the afterbirth ... Perhaps she would die after all. The inside of her froze with the thought but the outside still shivered uncontrollably. What would happen? She tried to dismiss her fears. What would the Lord want her to believe? She had lived a good life and her children would be well cared for. It was all one could ask of a mortal lifetime. Many were not as fortunate as she. For the multitudes, life was short and brutal. She, Mary Nisbet, Countess of Elgin, had lived a brief but privileged and exciting life. These were good thought to think as she felt the doctor push against the place inside her that seemed to be gushing obscene amounts of blood."
I defy any one to say this passage is either realistic or moving or well-written or exciting or interesting in any way.
Sorry to be so tough but as the author herself says, "life is short and brutal" -- too short to spend on this.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stopped worrying about historical accuracy or purple prose writing @ p.100 and gave myself over to the book which was just good, old-fashioned fun. Spoiler: Lord Elgin was a shit.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ah, the Caryatids. My masterpieces. Are they not lovely? For me, they represent the burden of women, who must carry blame for so many things of which they are innocent."
(quote from Pheidos from the novel)

Main characters Mary and Aspasia are definitely such women. That's all I will say to refrain from spoilers.


I loved this book mainly because it was like no historical novel I read before. I had not yet read anything that took place in Greece or Turkey at any time, nor had I read anything at all of the 5th century BC. Such a nice change of scenery. I think this book is a very good read for any lover of historical fiction, especially those looking for something fresh. Recommended!!

It was a bit extra sepcial for me since I've been to the Acropolis in my late teens, though sadly hardly recall anything beyond what can be seen on the pictures I have taken. I specificly chose this book to read during our recent trip to London, determined not to miss the Elgin Marbles during this visit. Even though the state of the Acropolis and the Marbles are not quite mint to say the least, it is marvelous and incredible that we still get to admire these works after roughly 2500 years. It was interesting to read about both the creation and the dismantlement of these monuments and the people involved.

[Teddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealing Athena is about two influential and custom defying women in history. Both caught between the conventions of their time and trying to help the men they loved.

At 21, newlywed, Mary, the countess of Elgin used her charm and influence with the Ottoman Empire to gain permission for her husband Elgin to deconstruct what was left of the Greek Parthenon and bring it's amazing sculptures back to England, during the Napoleonic wars.

Two millennia earlier, Aspasia, courtesan to Perikles and philosopher, used her charm and influence to get Athens to allow the building of the Parthenon and all of its amazing monuments.

The flow of the book going from one time and place to the other was weaved in perfect...

Read my full review here:

http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2009/01...

[Rowizyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due donne legate al Partenone e separate da circa 2500 anni. Due donne straordinarie, fuori dal comune, costrette a lottare per i propri diritti e per non essere schiacciate da società repressive molto simili, malgrado l'importante stacco temporale.

Nella Grecia classica, Aspasia, etera e filosofa, concubina di Pericle.
Nel mondo inglese del XVIII-XIX secolo, Lady Mary Hamilton Bruce, moglie dell'ambasciatore Elgin nell'impero ottomano e de facto finanziatrice del suo lavoro di recupero dei marmi del Partenone e di altre molte opere classiche.

Sono proprio quei marmi che le uniscono, ancora più che le similitudini delle loro vite: Aspasia li vede al loro massimo splendore, Mary nel momento di peggior degrado, ed entrambe hanno a che fare con gli uomini che li crearono o che li preservarono. Le loro vicissitudini però si toccano in maniera inquietante: Aspasia non può sposare Pericle perché non ateniese, secondo la legge voluta dallo stesso Pericle (forse l'ultimo politico del mondo che emana una legge e poi non pretende un'eccezione per se stesso), ma sembra comunque aver avuto un legame vero e ben oltre la soddisfazione sessuale, tuttavia viene spesso accusata di essere una prostituta, una strega, di tirare le fila di Pericle per i propri interessi personali, di indurre le donne per bene a prostituirsi... fino a essere processata per empietà a lenocinio. Ne uscirà incolume grazie anche all'intervento di Pericle, e tuttavia questa vicenda le mostrerà i limiti di movimento di una donna nel suo tempo. Mary sposa Lord Elgin certa dei propri sentimenti e si imbarca con lui in una lunga avventura diplomatica in oriente da cui il marito vuole anche ricavare quanti più marmi ateniesi possibili, salvandoli dalle razzie turche (gli ottomani che spicconano i blocchi di marmo per recuperare il piombo che tiene insieme le costruzioni sono dolorosi da leggere), ma la missione per preservare la culla della civiltà sfugge rapidamente loro di mano per i costi. Mary compie imprese eccezionali per la diplomazia e per ottenere favori per suo marito malgrado le tante gravidanze (cinque) e i tanti problemi: le diverse malattie del marito, i costi e i problemi legati al trasporto di tonnellate e tonnellate di marmo, la prigionia del marito in Francia quando scoppia la guerra napoleonica... Si prodiga in ogni modo, esercitando il suo fascino, e che ne cava? L'accusa di essere una adultera contro natura rifiutandosi di rimanere incinta dopo la quinta figlia e un'amorale perché non ha ancora passato la propria eredità sotto il controllo del marito con le mani bucate (NB il padre di lei è ancora vivo, quindi di fatto l'eredità ancora non c'è), fino alla pubblica umiliazione con un processo per adulterio e il divorzio. Elgin, che viene consumato dalla malattia e dall'ossessione per i marmi, la ricatta per avere più denaro, impedendole alla fine di vedere i figli, che per lungo tempo la disprezzeranno come un'adultera e rifiuteranno di vederla anche in età adulta. Mary non può neanche parlare in tribunale, perché sarebbe disdicevole. È consolante sapere che il suo secondo matrimonio è stato felice.

È un romanzo ricco, su due donne straordinarie e su un'opera eterna, che fa ancora discutere (è ancora in corso la diatriba per la proprietà dei fregi del Partenone portati in Inghilterra dagli Elgin) e che continua ad affascinare. Sono stata più volte al British Museum e ho avuto la fortuna di salire all'Acropoli, e capisco bene perché questa meraviglia continui a emozionare. Mi è piaciuto molto, ha allargato le mie conoscenze in merito e mi ha emozionato. Bella lettura

[Kara Babcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half of the book was a little erotic for my tastes, but it's fine if you like that sort of thing. It just seemed like a page didn't go by without mentioning sex or arousal or issuing some sort of innuendo. This calmed down toward the end of the book, by which time I actually found myself empathizing with Mary quite a bit

The book appealed to my dormant desire to learn more about the Elgin marbles. Essex writes with confidence and an intimate tone that makes the period and the characters come alive. I quite enjoyed her portrayal of Mary and Aspasia's thoughts and feelings. Through the course of the book, Essex draws heavy parallels between a woman's life in ancient Greece and a woman's life in 18th-century England--both democracies at war with other world powers.

At times, the book was tiring. In addition to the aforementioned emphasis on the erotic, the dialogue could be difficult, and Essex belaboured her points about women's disadvantages.

I did enjoy how she worked in little points of historical detail (for example, explaining to the reader how Elgin had syphilis, not rheumatism, by making Sebastian explain it to Mary). For the most part the book seems quite accurate from a historical perspective.

Far from my favourite book, Stealing Athena was a satisfactory portrayal of two women who lived a millennium apart yet still suffered the same challenges.

[Janellyn51 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and again I say, I simply cannot get over how it is possible that women had so few, let's say NO rights, to thier own property once they were married. I just finished a book called Murder at the Priory, which again illustrated that in England, once you married what was yours, became the property of your husband, and they took well advantage of that situation. In Stealing Athena, the depth to which Mary Nesbit got taken by her husband, Lord Elgin, it just makes my blood boil. This is a work of historical fiction about Lord and Lady Elgin, from Scotland. He became the foreign embassador to Constantinople, and Mary was the toast of the town and exhibited so much more diplomatic tact that her money grubbing, in the name of art, husband. I am totally on the fence as to how I feel about pilaging the arts of other countries to benefit your own museums even if occupying countries are trashing antiquities. How about saving the greek art from the turks and then returning it when they no longer rule? Anyway, this is the fictionalized account of Lord Elgin usurping his wife's family's money to finance his dream of bringing any and all greek works of art that he could possibly pilfer, with the permission of the Turkish rulers, and how it affected his loving wife. All I can say is, if Mary had of murdered him, I would have been her biggest champion!

[Lorri Coburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealing Athena parallels the lives of 18th Century Mary Nisbett Elgin, wife of British ambassador to Turkey, and Aspasia, concubine of Pericles, ruler of Athens at the time of the building of the Parthenon. These were women ahead of their time, outspoken and influential in periods in which women had few rights. While these women were more privileged than the average woman, they still suffered from legal constraints placed on women, with some very serious and unfair consequences.

Lord Elgin was responsible for bringing the remains of the Parthenon to Britain, saving them from destruction by the Turks and Greeks, who no longer valued them and used the ground-up marble for their shacks. The story goes back and forth between time periods, comparing Lady Elgin's experiences with salvaging the marbles, statues and friezes, with Aspasia's role with their creators.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book about a time in history and a subject matter I don't often read historical-fiction about. My main problem was I did not like any of the character's. They were all weasels and cheats and the two women who were suppose to be the main characters came off just as selfish and un-likable as the rest. It is hard to like a book when you feel nothing but contempt for all the characters. The ending was dismal. Based on true events and facts, it follows the lives of the characters. After spending all that time reading, 300 plus pages and then it just ends in such a pity party. It was not satisfactory.

[Agatha Donkar Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not like anyone in this book, but it was a great read.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is one of those that starts slow and trite, but gets better. The character of Mary took me a while to like. At the beginning of the novel, she was written to almost purposely defy social norms, anachronistically so. She becomes believable about half way through the novel. Aspasia is a much better story line, I enjoyed all of her chapters very much.

[Carrie Kitzmiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealing Athena by Karen Essex tells the story of two historical women, two women whose names I had never heard before picking up this book, but whose stories are fascinating.

Mary Nesbit convinces her father to allow her to marry Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, because she desires to marry for love. Her father is not convinced of his worthiness - especially financially - but agrees to the match. Very shortly after marrying, Lord Elgin is named the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and they set off for Constantinople.

While acting as ambassador to the Turks, Elgin is determined to rescue the famous Parthenon marbles in Athens, Greece, before Napoleon can get his hands on them. The Turks have devastated the Acropolis, sometimes crushing the marbles and using the materials for building homes, other times melting down the lead in the statues for bullets. Elgin is consumed with his plan to bring the marbles back to Britain and establish Britain as a leader in the Fine Arts movement.

According to the novel, Elgin would have failed miserably in his plan without the charms and financial resources of his intelligent wife, Mary. She uses her wits and her money to help her husband achieve his goals, even while his body is deteriorating from what was probably syphilis. (Both he and his doctor told his wife that he suffered from rheumatism.)

Set against this story of the Elgins and their removal of the marbles is the story of Aspasia, lover of Pericles, the man who commissioned the marbles to be crafted during the glory days of Athens.

It was interesting to see how much the fates of women were similar in these two historical eras, even though centuries passed between their lives. Women were not expected to be intelligent, educated, or opinionated. In Mary’s case, her husband loved her charm and beauty when it was benefiting his ambassadorship and plans for the marbles, but was also constantly jealous of the attention other men paid her.

Aspasia was not allowed to marry Pericles, because of a law Pericles himself had passed prohibiting Athenians from marrying foreigners. She lived with Pericles as his wife, but was considered a disrepectful woman who was too opinionated and had too much influence on Pericles.

Both women underwent public trials because of the choices they made in their lives. Neither woman allowed herself to be destroyed by the public and private persecution.

Essex is an extremely talented author. Stealing Athena is well-researched, and it kept my interest all the way through. I was fascinated to learn the stories of these women and how they impacted history in spite of their gender. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction - especially the work of Susan Vreeland and Tracy Chevalier - would enjoy this book.

4 out of 5 stars

[Nancy]

Historic fiction two powerful women, Lady Mary Elgin who is married to a diplomate and Aspasia who lives in the time of Perikles. Both women involved in the mystery and the controversy that is the Elgin Marbles. Mary's husband is supposedly "saving" antiquities of Greece from the Acropolis and the Parthenon. However he has bankrupted himself and is focused on spending Mary's money too. Divorces and scandal follow. Aspasia is woman who is a thinker and is much more powerful than any woman of her day. She is an observer of the arts that went into the Parthenon and the Acropolis. Each woman in her own way suffers for the fate of the Elgin Marbles. A controversy that still rages today. Very interesting. As good as Leonardos Swan. I look forward to more of her books. She really weaves the history and the story together so nicely. Worth your time.

[Emi Yoshida · Rating 3 out of 5]

We honeymooned in Greece, so it was really fascinating to read about the historical characters who actually created, and pillaged, some of the awesome monuments we so enjoyed - and I loved the stories about the women behind these men and the way they were presented. I really respect the work that goes in to this kind of historical research, but there is just a little twinge of something chick-litty about Karen Essex's writing that kind of discounted it for me. Maybe it's the dialog? It just read a little bit dumbed down I thought.

[Kaydon_the_dino · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable story but I was ultimately displeased by it in a few ways. We don't hear any of Aspasia's story until we are already a third of the way through Mary's, and even then maybe four chapters of the entire book are hers. Secondly, the first part of the book is rather slow, meandering it's way around the Turkish court, then it picks up and races through to the end. The ending feels extremely hurried and rushed. Mary's story is told in the third person, while Aspasia's is in the first, which makes the shifting between them a but jarring.

[Kate Forsyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel tells the fascinating story of the famous Elgin's Marbles and how they came to be brought to England. This narrative thread is interwoven with another set in Ancient Greece. I didn't enjoy this second thread as much as the fist, and was often skipping to get back to the story set in the early 19th century. I think the writer should be commended for her daring, though, and woudlr ecommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction.

[Sara W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiction book about the Elgin Marbles taken from Greece. Flips between the Elgins' story in the 1800s and Perikles and Asapia (forgive the spelling of the Greek names, I don't have my book on me) in Ancient Greece. The author's note at the end was really thorough and helpful on where to find additional sources which I appreciated.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I would have a hard time bouncing back and forth between the two main characters (and their corresponding time periods) - not so. The plots are interestingly interwoven, and the writing, while at times a bit thick and awkward, was generally very pleasing.
One of the better historical fiction novels I've read in some time.

[Brenda DiVincenzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having studied Greek mythology and art history in college I thought I knew about the Parthenon. I am glad to learn new things but this book lacked something and I am not sure what. At times it seemed contrived but at others it flowed well.

[Lindsey Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good book, however the beginning could use alot of work. It is very slow getting into, that i felt giving up a few times. The story is very interesting, and while maybe not 100% historically accurate is very close.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very boring. I love the idea of structuring a novel to highlight the parallels in the lives of two women separated by two thousand years, but Essex apparently does not have the skills to white such a novel.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly decent historical fiction, especially if you are interested in art. While I was not particularly impressed with the details or style, nor was the story itself overly memorable, it was a pleasant enough way to spend a few evenings before retiring.

[Shannon Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The front story was a little too factual - event after event after event. I began to wish for more of the story within the story.

[Li Wu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slow read for me, but it's interesting. Makes me appreciate even more of all the freedom we have now!!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story broke my mama heart, but it was certainly true to the period it describes. Overall, a good, solid read.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning, I wanted to shake Lady Elgin, but then, she changed. I still can't believe she gave up her children. Good read.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprising lack of real conflict until the last 150 pages. THOSE pages were good.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, and lots of research done, but the telling is less than graceful. The first chapters set in ancient Athens are cumbersome.