For the Winner
Published on 15. June 2017
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-0-85752-317-4 (ISBN)
Description
Some three thousand years ago, in a time before history, the warriors of Greece journeyed to the ends of the earth in the greatest expedition the world had ever seen.
One woman fought alongside them.
Abandoned at birth on the slopes of Mount Pelion, Atalanta is determined to prove her worth to the father who cast her aside. Having taught herself to hunt and fight, and disguised as a man, she wins a place on the greatest voyage of that heroic age: with Jason and his band of Argonauts in search of the legendary Golden Fleece.
And it is here, in the company of men who will go down in history as heroes, that Atalanta must battle against the odds - and the will of the gods - to take control of her destiny and change her life forever.
With her unrivalled knowledge and captivating storytelling, Emily Hauser brings alive an ancient world where the gods can transform a mortal's life on a whim, where warriors carve out names that will echo down the ages . . . and where one woman fights to determine her own fate.
'Kept me utterly absorbed. Here is a heroine to cheer for and a book to cherish.' Margot Livesey, author of THE HOUSE ON FORTUNE STREET and THE FLIGHT OF GEMMA HARDY
'Hauser recreates one of the oldest tales in Greek myth with great skill and panache.' Sunday Times
'Fascinating and innovative . . . Filled with intellectual erudition, passion and unparalleled imagination.' Antony Makrinos, Fellow in Classics at UCL
'A brilliant, epic tale full of breath-taking action . . . This gem of a book will leave you desperate for the next Emily Hauser novel.' Crystal King, author of FEAST OF SORROW
One woman fought alongside them.
Abandoned at birth on the slopes of Mount Pelion, Atalanta is determined to prove her worth to the father who cast her aside. Having taught herself to hunt and fight, and disguised as a man, she wins a place on the greatest voyage of that heroic age: with Jason and his band of Argonauts in search of the legendary Golden Fleece.
And it is here, in the company of men who will go down in history as heroes, that Atalanta must battle against the odds - and the will of the gods - to take control of her destiny and change her life forever.
With her unrivalled knowledge and captivating storytelling, Emily Hauser brings alive an ancient world where the gods can transform a mortal's life on a whim, where warriors carve out names that will echo down the ages . . . and where one woman fights to determine her own fate.
'Kept me utterly absorbed. Here is a heroine to cheer for and a book to cherish.' Margot Livesey, author of THE HOUSE ON FORTUNE STREET and THE FLIGHT OF GEMMA HARDY
'Hauser recreates one of the oldest tales in Greek myth with great skill and panache.' Sunday Times
'Fascinating and innovative . . . Filled with intellectual erudition, passion and unparalleled imagination.' Antony Makrinos, Fellow in Classics at UCL
'A brilliant, epic tale full of breath-taking action . . . This gem of a book will leave you desperate for the next Emily Hauser novel.' Crystal King, author of FEAST OF SORROW
Reviews / Votes
In For the Winner, Emily Hauser tells the compelling story of the brave, strong and clever Atalanta as she seeks to take her rightful place in her father's life. Her many adventures with Jason and his Argonauts kept me utterly absorbed. Here is a heroine to cheer for, and a book to cherish. * Margot Livesey * One of the most fascinating and innovative recent novelisations of the legendary journey of Jason and the Argonauts to capture the Golden Fleece seen from the eyes of the only heroine who, according to myth, took part: Atalanta. Although Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most famous stories of Greek mythology, the story of Atalanta has been less known or even neglected throughout the centuries. Emily Hauser's novel fills this gap with intellectual erudition, passion and paralleled imagination in order to give us, in the liveliest way possible, the story of an amazing female character and her journey from anonymity to immortality through her unbelievable heroic deeds. * Antony Makrinos, Fellow in Classics at UCL * An enchanting, dramatic novel that brings to life iconic mythic characters, including a woman whose voice had long been silenced. * Judith Starkston, author of HAND OF FIRE * For the Winner is beautifully descriptive and full of historical detail, easily drawing the reader into a lost world of gods and heroes. By taking the viewpoint of Atalanta, a lesser known character from Greek myth, Hauser gives us a refreshingly original take on Jason's famous quest for the Golden Fleece. * Glyn Iliffe, author of KING OF ITHACA * A brilliant, epic tale full of breath-taking action with a shining star at its centre, Atalanta, a female warrior of incredice force and drive. This gem of a book will leave you desperate for the next Emily Hauser novel. * Crystal King, author of FEAST OF SORROW * Hauser recreates one of the oldest tales in Greek myth with great skill and panache. * Sunday Times * An enthralling re-telling of Greek myth . . . Hauser's rendering of Atalanta is captivating, the story-telling masterful and engaging. The ancient myths are in good hands! * Dr Michael Scott, Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Warwick University * An erudite page-turner. * Lady * It's wonderful how Emily Hauser brings alive this Bronze Age world . . . this is immersive writing, marvellously descriptive and evocative . . . an elegant, exciting and in some ways moving story. -- Kate Atherton * For Winter Nights * It is Atalanta, determined to prove herself every bit as good as a man, who turns this into a story which speaks to us . . . Despite the will of the gods, she is very clearly in charge of her own destiny. It is this mixture of feminism and self-determination which makes For the Winner a very modern and relevant novel. * Historical Novel Society *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Transworld Publishers Ltd
Illustrations
B & W map
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
625 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-85752-317-4 (9780857523174)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Born in Brighton and brought up in Suffolk, EMILY HAUSER studied Classics at Cambridge, where she was taught by Mary Beard. She completed a PhD at Yale University, was a Junior Fellow at Harvard University and is now Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at Exeter University. For the Most Beautiful - the first book in the Golden Apple trilogy - was her debut novel and retells the story of the siege of Troy. Her second, For the Winner, is a reimagining of the myth of Atalanta and the legend of Jason, the Argonauts and the search for the Golden Fleece. The final book - For the Immortal - brings to brilliant life the story of the legendary Amazons and their queen, Hippolyta, and one of the ancient world's most celebrated heroes, Hercules.