Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
What's It About?
A reimagining of the ancient Greek myth of Atalanta, a fierce huntress raised by bears and the only woman in the world’s most famous band of heroes, the Argonauts.A sad pattern has emerged throughout history — women are often silenced and their stories remain untold. But that pattern has slowly changed over the past century, and you may even notice many authors today giving voice to the previously voiceless. This trend is especially true in retellings of Greek mythology, a genre that’s skyrocketed over the past few years.
One author in particular seems to take great joy in retelling Greek myths through women’s eyes — Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Elektra and Ariadne. In her latest book, Atalanta (Flatiron Books), Saint adds yet another mesmerizing addition to this growing trend. The book tells the little-known story of a mighty huntress raised by bears, and the only woman to journey with Jason and the Argonauts to claim the Golden Fleece.
Fearless Huntress, Passionate Woman
An outcast since the day of her birth, Atalanta grew up among the beasts of the forest after being abandoned by her parents. First raised by a mother bear, wrestling among her cubs, she was then taken in by Artemis (goddess of the hunt and wilderness) and grew to maturity amongst the river and forest nymphs. Under Artemis’s guidance, and determined to protect her fellow sisters from the threat of men, Atalanta quickly grew into the strongest huntress among them.
But her heart was never one to be contained, and she found herself longing for something more than the tranquil woods of her childhood. When Artemis tells her of the Argonauts — a growing group of heroes setting sail for the Golden Fleece — and asks Atalanta to go fight in her name, Atalanta is more than eager to take up the challenge. But before she goes, Artemis gives her a grim warning: should she marry, it will be her undoing.
Atalanta is soon accepted as a member of the Argo — thanks to the aid of her new friend, Meleager — but as the only woman on deck she still needs to make her place and prove herself as capable as the others. Their journey to claim the Golden Fleece is rife with familiar figures and tales, including the women of Lemnos, six-armed giants, the cursed Phineas and, of course, the spellbinding Medea. But through Atlanta’s eyes, the readers witness a whole new side to these characters and their role in the story.
After securing the Golden Fleece, the Argonauts begin their smooth journey home; but the closer they get, the more Atalanta’s anxieties grow. Along their journey, she and Meleager began a passionate affair, and now she fears Artemis’s punishment. She justifies her actions by reminding herself she’s not getting married, but she can’t help this foreboding feeling in her gut.
I won’t spoil how the affair comes to a close and what follows, but you’ll be itching to see just how her destiny unfolds. Her story ends with a surprising twist and the rare, perfect last line that will leave you breathless.
Fearsome Women in Mystical World
Through Saint’s lyrical prose and vivid exposition, the world of ancient Greece comes alive on the page. From the various heroes on board the Argo to the exotic and magical lands they come across, the world Saint creates is creatively breathtaking.
Her depiction of the gods is a captivating experience, particularly her portrayal of Artemis — the protector of young maidens who “frees” pregnant rape victims by turning them into wild beasts, and believes turning women into sacred ponds is better than letting them fall into the hands of men. Her mysterious motives and genuine (yet complicated) relationship with Atalanta make her one of the more fascinating minor characters.
Atalanta’s character is distinctly unique within her world, as she boasts an unconventional perspective among many women of her time. (Or any human really, having grown up outside the conventions of society.) Yet despite the fact she is the only woman among the Argonauts, there is no shortage of strong female characters in the story. Medea and the women of Lemnos (especially their queen, Hypsipyle) are particularly fascinating and distinctly fierce characters.
Yet Atalanta points out their unfortunate fate in the stories of men: “I remembered how much I had admired Hypsipyle’s strength and courage in fighting to claim the city as her own, but then she had offered it up to Jason. Medea had the power to charm monsters and heal mortal injuries, magic that lay the world at her feet, and yet she tried to shrink herself down to a life at his side.” Seeing how these strong women were ready to shrink themselves into smaller roles beside men, Atalanta became even more determined to maintain her independent spirit.
In the end, Atalanta is the story of a woman who cannot be contained — even by love. Strong and independent, she tries to find her place in the world and discovers she belongs in the most unexpected of places.
About Jennifer Saint:
Jennifer Saint grew up reading Greek mythology and was always drawn to the untold stories hidden within the myths. After thirteen years as a high school English teacher, she wrote Ariadne which tells the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur from the perspective of Ariadne — the woman who made it happen. Her second novel, Elektra, explores the curse upon the House of Atreus, giving voice to three women who are caught up in its shadows: Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra whose lives are shattered by the Trojan War and who seek to find justice at any cost. Jennifer Saint is now a full-time author, living in Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two children.
