Stealing Athena

Stealing Athena traces the parallel stories of Mary, Lady Elgin, wife of Thomas Bruce, Lord Elgin of the famous Elgin marbles, and Aspasia, courtesan of Pericles, general and statesman of the ancient Greek era of the building of the Parthenon. Mary and Aspasia are two women who devote themselves to the fulfillment of their mates' aspirations for fame and glory, despite the trials they have to endure. The Elgin marbles were collected during the reign of George III. The beautiful carvings and friezes from the Parthenon risked ruin by conquering Ottoman armies. The Elgins, posted in Turkey on an ambassadorship, risk all to collect the priceless marble carvings under Napoleon's very nose, to cart them back to England to enrich the fine art of the country. Not all agree that the marbles are worth collecting, or even that they are the original works. But Thomas holds fast to his dream, despite losing virtually everything in the process. The Elgin marbles are viewable today in a dusty corner of the British museum, but the story behind them is far from dusty. While this is a novel, the historical setting and much of the action is true. The story of Pericles and Aspasia is fainter in recorded history, but the parallel tale of the mind behind the building of the Parthenon and his improbable lover lends focus to both stories of women experiencing love, loss, jealousy, suspicion and manipulation for their partners' greater glory.