''Stealing Athena'' has a beautiful cover, one of the nicest I've seen in a long while. Rich and opulent, just like the settings for this story. A novel based on true events, it reads like a romance. The tale is a romantic one, taking place as it does in Greece (both ancient and "modern" (19th century)) and Constantinople. The author's attention to detail is wonderful; she makes you see the fascinating places she describes. I really like that she included a section telling what happened to each of the major characters, including the Elgin Marbles. ( )

Stealing Athena is a wonderful historical novel about two relatively unknown women from completely separate time periods. Mary Nisbet and Aspasia of Miletus may have lived more than 2200 years apart, but Karen Essex’s new book shows the similarities between them, both in their lives and in their personalities. A slightly larger portion of the book is from Mary’s point of view, and we are first introduced to Aspasia when Mary begins reading Plutarch’s Life of Pericles. Aspasia was the lover of Pericles, who commissioned the Parthenon Marbles. Mary’s life became forever intertwined with the Elgin Marbles, as they are also known, when her husband, Lord Elgin, set out on his quest to ‘rescue’ the marbles from Athens for the glory of Britain. Stealing Athena spans the entirety of Mary’s marriage to Lord Elgin, including the years it took to obtain the Parthenon Marbles, and parts of Aspasia’s life with Pericles. Essex’s book gives very interesting insights in the women’s relationships and how they assist their partners in their endeavors, despite the prejudices against women in both eras. We also are given a window into the cultures and beliefs of their society, which made it easy to understand what motivated them and their peers. Overall, it is a great book to read, for either the relationships and character dynamics, or for the historical settings and culture. I personally believe if you like historical fiction or character driven novels, you’ll love this book. ( )

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 ( )

Stealing Athena tells the story of the deconstruction of the Elgin Marbles during the early 19th Century. Originally belonging to the Parthenon, the Elgin Marbles comprise marble sculptures created, or supervised, by the Greek sculptor Pheidias. In 1801, Thomas Bruce, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, received permission to remove them to England. He did so over the course of several years at great expense and not without mishap. Read the full review at http://fuzzyhistory.com/2008/08/09/st... ( )

The Elgin Marbles, housed in the British Museum for nearly two hundred years, have always been one of their most controversial collections. Removed from Greece in 1806 by Lord Elgin, a British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, appeals are constantly made to return the marbles to their place of origin. These beautiful sculptures, original to the Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens, were brought to England by Elgin so that they could be protected from the ravages of war and inspire artists from around the world. Perhaps we should be grateful to Elgin; without his dubious actions Karen Essex' entertaining new novel, Stealing Athena would never have been created.

It is primarily the story of two women: Lady Mary Elgin, who financed her husband's expeditions, and Aspasia, the famous concubine of Athens' greatest citizen, Pericles. Lady Elgin is a beautiful girl, newly married to Thomas Bruce, seventh earl of Elgin, and eager to be the best wife she can. She's crazy about her husband. For his sake she leaves her native home in Scotland and sails the stormy seas (while pregnant!) to be with Elgin in Constantinople. Charming and sweet, she proves to be England's greatest asset; it seems as if no man, Ottoman or European, can help but fall in love with her and shower her with countless gifts. Mary soon finds she is able to open doors firmly closed even to her husband; she is the first European women to visit the Sultan's harems. Whenever Lord Elgin gets himself in trouble, Mary uses all her resources to pull him out, no matter what damage it may have to her reputation.
Aspasia, on the other hand, is a foreign woman living in Athens as the Parthenon is being constructed. A female philosopher, she enjoys wit and conversation in a society where women are expected to be quiet and submissive. Aspasia constantly must fend off slander and bitter rumors from an uncertain position; she cannot marry Pericles because of a law he created forbidding Athenians from marrying foreigners. She will never have the security of being his wife, and everything from her prominent position in society to food and drink every night she enjoys only through him.
In many ways, the two women are opposites. Mary only wants to live a simple domestic life raising her children in the house Elgin has built back home in Scotland. Proud and independent, Aspasia chafes at having to depend on Pericles for everything she owns. But both women face similar opposition in society because they live outside the 'natural law' and don't follow proper women's roles.

This book reads quickly and slips easily into the lives of Mary and Aspasia, rich in historical details and romance. The ambitious men are distant figures, so engrossed in the pursuit of their own immortality that they often neglect the needs of their women. Luckily, the women are strong figures, and when put under pressure they emerge as sparkling diamonds. The book does a wonderful job telling the tale of the creation and removal of Elgin Marbles from their home in Greece while highlighting the fascinating figures behind the scenes.

Fashionista Piranha, my Book Blog: http://fashion-piranha.livejournal.co... ( )