Jenny BlackfordRecensioni

Gorgeously illustrated book of poetry on the subject of cats. Jenny Blackford captures their essential natures so well. I loved these lines - from the last poem of the small collection, entitled Soft silk sack.

He sleeps as if
the world's supplies of dreams
were running out.

Now on my lap
a soft silk sack of bones
turns, warm, against my thigh.

At 108 pages The Priestess and the Slave can be read in one sitting. The story is written with grace, talent and a clear understanding of the material. Jenny is well educated in the Classics (Greek and Latin) and has a passion for the ancient world that goes deeper than a fascination with rulers, wars and gods. She’s in it for the little people, the ones who gave those rulers their power, the masses to fight the wars and the gods their pedestals.

The Priestess and the Slave is about two such people. Thrasulla, the priestess, witnesses her fellow Pythia at Delphi succumb to the bribes of the mad king Kleomenes, while some sixty years later in Athens, the slave Harmonia must tend to the family who owns her during a horrible plague. The two stories intertwine seamlessly and, even though they never meet, they resonate with each other.

Thrasulla’s story focuses on Perialla’s disgrace but isn’t about corruption or politics. Instead it’s about Thrasulla watching someone she trusted be seduced by madness, reflecting on her life before priestesshood and learning more about the nature of men and gods. Her belief in her god is, as apposed to Perialla’s, incorruptible, but that doesn’t mean she has no questions about Apollo’s motives – especially when she sees how easy it is for man to manipulate the gods to suit his needs.

Harmonia, on the other hand, would be instantly forgiven for losing her belief in the gods. For starters, she’s a slave, but we’re given a story where the slave is a valued and cherished person in the family. The care Harmonia shows for those who own her is returned by their regard for her strength and companionship. Although we’re never taken outside of the family house, we don’t need to be because everything you need to know about the horrible plague is shown through this one family – the devastating effect of losing heirs and wives and sisters and how, when it is all over, life simply must go on.

The story of Thrasulla is the ‘intelligent’ half of this tale. We see her mature and prudent assessment of Perialla’s demise and learn the roots of this wisdom that serves her so well when others falter. Harmonia’s story is the ‘heart’ of the matter, deeply touching because of her grief at the slow, painful deaths of those she cares for and loves and, ultimately, the helplessness of the survivor. Together, these stories make a poignant whole, reflecting both on how the big decisions are made (and manipulated) and how they filter down to even the lowliest person.

Highly, highly recommended for anyone after a quick but great read, even if you’re not interested in Ancient Greece. And if you are, then welcome to a refreshing view of a world most often shown from the lofty heights of the aristocracy.

Review by Stuart Mayne

This is a beautifully written short novel that follows two separate lives in fifth century Greece. The stories are vignettes of a turbulent time in Attic politics rather than parts of a unified plot line. This does not distract from the tension and drama of each story until the finale of the novel where the reader is waiting for something to happen. Unfortunately, the story ends without dramatic resolution. This structural defect is the only shortcoming in an otherwise fine example of excellent writing.
Indeed, The Priestess and the Slave is a tremendous debut novella by one of Australia's most exciting emerging writers of speculative fiction and, happily, historical fiction. It is certain that there are more fine novels to come from this powerful writer.