House of Names
Colm Tóibín

1st paperback ed

Paperback (05 Apr 2018)


Publishers Synopsis

THE TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Unforgettable Mary Beard

They cut her hair before they dragged her to the place of sacrifice. Her mouth was gagged to stop her cursing her father, her cowardly, two-tongued father. Nonetheless, they heard her muffled screams.

On the day of his daughters wedding, Agamemnon orders her sacrifice.

His daughter is led to her death, and Agamemnon leads his army into battle, where he is rewarded with glorious victory.

Three years later, he returns home and his murderous action has set the entire family - mother, brother, sister - on a path of intimate violence, as they enter a world of hushed commands and soundless journeys through the palaces dungeons and bedchambers. As his wife seeks his death, his daughter, Electra, is the silent observer to the familys game of innocence while his son, Orestes, is sent into bewildering, frightening exile where survival is far from certain. Out of their desolating loss, Electra and Orestes must find a way to right these wrongs of the past even if it means committing themselves to a terrible, barbarous act.

House of Names is a story of intense longing and shocking betrayal. It is a work of great beauty, and daring, from one of our finest living writers.

A masterpeice Daily Telegraph
Devastatingly human ... hauntingly believable Guardian
A celebration of what novels can do Observer


Book information

ISBN: 9780241257692
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Imprint: Penguin Books
Pub date: 05 Apr 2018
Edition: 1st paperback ed
DEWEY: 823.92
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 261
Weight: 196g
Height: 128mm
Width: 196mm
Spine width: 20mm