In this wonderful reimagining of the Greek myth of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra and their family, Colm Toibin gives centre stage to a revengeful Clytemnestra, furious at her husband's actions in sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia to the gods of war. Her plan to rid herself of her husband and begin afresh results in a spiral of violence involving her remaining children, Orestes and Electra. House of Names manages to be both action packed and elegant, not an easy feat. Even if you are familiar with the Greek tale, the change in perspective and added voices of characters previously in the background provides new interest. Initially sympathetic to Clytemnestra's plight, I soon became horrified as the violence got out of control and found myself pinning my hopes on Orestes.
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