The Missing Thread
A Women's History of the Ancient World
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Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it.
In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage.
* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that includes maps, charts, and photos of artifacts from the printed book.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
July 30, 2024 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593908853
- File size: 495529 KB
- Duration: 17:12:20
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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December 6, 2024
Classicist Dunn's (The Shadow of Vesuvius: A Life of Pliny) work retells history from the unique perspectives of the women who impacted it. Dunn beautifully weaves the tales of these powerful women, calling attention to their femininity while simultaneously praising them for their strength and wisdom. She does a stunning job of highlighting the power of both the men and the women who shaped the past, placing them on even ground and discussing their equitable impact on the world. Dunn details the strength, power, and intelligence of these ancient artists, writers, philosophers, and fighters, and how, as women, they used their wits, knowledge, and sex to influence the politics, authority, and civilizations of the ancient world. Narrated by Jenny Funnel, the narrative transforms into a compelling and energetic tale, leading listeners through an unbelievable history that is awe-inspiring and elaborate. The author also occasionally reads excerpts of the text, setting an elegant scene for the listeners. VERDICT This detail-oriented narrative explores the numerous and unbelievable ways women have changed anicent and contemporary society. Recommended for people interested in herstory and the marginalized people that shaped today's world.--Autumn Wyatt
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Jenny Funnell's authoritative performance perfectly suits this lengthy, well-researched history. Her resolute cadence and crisp tone enable listeners to engage with the many stories of women who worked, loved, and served alongside men of the ancient Mediterranean world. Author Daisy Dunn provides Funnell with details of empire builders ranging from the Minoans to the citizens of the early Roman Empire, as well as plenty of ghastly accounts of beheadings, eyes gouged out, bodies hacked apart, and countless other horrific forms of torture perpetrated not only by famous men of the time, but sometimes by lesser-known women. Funnell handles all this with intense, unhurried storytelling that is appropriate to each historical culture. S.G. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine
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