The Silence Of The Girls

Episodes

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0220180925

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of the Regeneration trilogy and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War as chronicled by Homer in The Illiad.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis is transformed from a nineteen year old queen to a bed-gir', from a free woman to a slave, a thing. She is awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been seized from the wreckage of their homes and flung to the fighters.

Pat Barker was prompted to write this story by the words of a professor in Philip Roth's novel, The Human Stain. The lines act as an epigraph:

"'You know how European literature begins?' he'd ask, after having taken the roll at the first class meeting. 'With a quarrel. All of European literature springs from a fight.' And then he picked up his copy of The Iliad and read to the class the opening lines. 'Divine Muse, sing of the ruinous wrath of Achilles . . . Begin where they first quarrelled, Agamemnon the King of men, and great Achilles.' And what are they quarrelling about, these two violent, mighty souls? It's as basic as a barroom brawl. They are quarrelling over a woman. A girl, really. A girl stolen from her father. A girl abducted in a war."

Years later, Briseis looks back on her time in the Greek camp at Troy and attempts to tell her own story.

In Episode 2, Briseis recalls the morning after her first night as Achilles' slave.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.

Briseis recalls the morning after her first night as Achilles' slave.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0320180926

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of the Regeneration trilogy and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War as chronicled by Homer in The Illiad.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis is transformed from a nineteen year old queen to a bed-gir', from a free woman to a slave, a thing. She is awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been seized from the wreckage of their homes and flung to the fighters.

Pat Barker was prompted to write this story by the words of a professor in Philip Roth's novel, The Human Stain. The lines act as an epigraph:

"'You know how European literature begins?' he'd ask, after having taken the roll at the first class meeting. 'With a quarrel. All of European literature springs from a fight.' And then he picked up his copy of The Iliad and read to the class the opening lines. 'Divine Muse, sing of the ruinous wrath of Achilles . . . Begin where they first quarrelled, Agamemnon the King of men, and great Achilles.' And what are they quarrelling about, these two violent, mighty souls? It's as basic as a barroom brawl. They are quarrelling over a woman. A girl, really. A girl stolen from her father. A girl abducted in a war."

Years later, Briseis looks back on her time in the Greek camp at Troy and attempts to tell her own story.

In episode 3, an old man arrives in the camp bringing with him a sizeable ransom and a powerful plea. The Greeks gather to hear what he has to say.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.

An old man arrives in camp. The Greeks gather to hear what he has to say.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0420180927

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of the Regeneration trilogy and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War as chronicled by Homer in The Illiad.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis is transformed from a nineteen year old queen to a bed-gir', from a free woman to a slave, a thing. She is awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been seized from the wreckage of their homes and flung to the fighters.

Pat Barker was prompted to write this story by the words of a professor in Philip Roth's novel, The Human Stain. The lines act as an epigraph:

"'You know how European literature begins?' he'd ask, after having taken the roll at the first class meeting. 'With a quarrel. All of European literature springs from a fight.' And then he picked up his copy of The Iliad and read to the class the opening lines. 'Divine Muse, sing of the ruinous wrath of Achilles . . . Begin where they first quarrelled, Agamemnon the King of men, and great Achilles.' And what are they quarrelling about, these two violent, mighty souls? It's as basic as a barroom brawl. They are quarrelling over a woman. A girl, really. A girl stolen from her father. A girl abducted in a war."

Years later, Briseis looks back on her time in the Greek camp at Troy and attempts to tell her own story.

In Episode 4, the Greek army and it's most senior leaders assemble and Achilles demands action to pacify Apollo.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.

Achilles assembles the Greek army and confronts Agamemnon about the plague.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0520180928

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of the Regeneration trilogy and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War as chronicled by Homer in The Illiad.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis is transformed from a nineteen year old queen to a bed-gir', from a free woman to a slave, a thing. She is awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been seized from the wreckage of their homes and flung to the fighters.

Pat Barker was prompted to write this story by the words of a professor in Philip Roth's novel, The Human Stain. The lines act as an epigraph:

"'You know how European literature begins?' he'd ask, after having taken the roll at the first class meeting. 'With a quarrel. All of European literature springs from a fight.' And then he picked up his copy of The Iliad and read to the class the opening lines. 'Divine Muse, sing of the ruinous wrath of Achilles . . . Begin where they first quarrelled, Agamemnon the King of men, and great Achilles.' And what are they quarrelling about, these two violent, mighty souls? It's as basic as a barroom brawl. They are quarrelling over a woman. A girl, really. A girl stolen from her father. A girl abducted in a war."

Years later, Briseis looks back on her time in the Greek camp at Troy and attempts to tell her own story.

In Episode 5, Briseis has become slave to the famously brutal Agamemnon.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.

Briseis has been allocated as slave to Agamemnon, who is known for his cruelty.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

06Episode 620181001

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of Regeneration and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis's old life is shattered. She is transformed from queen to captive, from free woman to slave, awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been wrested from their homes and flung to the fighters.

The Trojan War is known as a man's story - a quarrel between men over a woman, stolen from her home and spirited across the sea. But what of the other women in this story, silenced by history? What words did they speak when alone with each other, in the laundry, at the loom, when laying out the dead?

In this historical novel, a brilliant and brutal retelling of Homer's Iliad, Pat Barker charts one woman's journey through the chaos of the Trojan War, as she struggles to free herself and to become the author of her own story.

In Episode 6, the Trojans have advanced to the outskirts of the Greek camp and Agamemnon begs Achilles to return to battle.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

With the Trojans outside their camp, Agamemnon pleads for Achilles to return to battle.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

07Episode 720181002

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of Regeneration and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis's old life is shattered. She is transformed from queen to captive, from free woman to slave, awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been wrested from their homes and flung to the fighters.

The Trojan War is known as a man's story - a quarrel between men over a woman, stolen from her home and spirited across the sea. But what of the other women in this story, silenced by history? What words did they speak when alone with each other, in the laundry, at the loom, when laying out the dead?

In this historical novel, a brilliant and brutal retelling of Homer's Iliad, Pat Barker charts one woman's journey through the chaos of the Trojan War, as she struggles to free herself and to become the author of her own story.

In Episode 7, furious and insulted, Achilles continues his refusal to fight. But his friend Patroclus, also a gifted soldier, comes up with a plan.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

Furious and insulted, Achilles still won't fight. His friend Patroclus makes a plan.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

08Episode 820181003

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of Regeneration and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis's old life is shattered. She is transformed from queen to captive, from free woman to slave, awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been wrested from their homes and flung to the fighters.

The Trojan War is known as a man's story - a quarrel between men over a woman, stolen from her home and spirited across the sea. But what of the other women in this story, silenced by history? What words did they speak when alone with each other, in the laundry, at the loom, when laying out the dead?

In this historical novel, a brilliant and brutal retelling of Homer's Iliad, Pat Barker charts one woman's journey through the chaos of the Trojan War, as she struggles to free herself and to become the author of her own story.

In Episode 8, Achilles return to battle with one aim - to kill Hector in revenge for the death of Patroclus.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

Frenzied by grief, Achilles devastates the Trojans on his return to battle.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

09Episode 920181004

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of Regeneration and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis's old life is shattered. She is transformed from queen to captive, from free woman to slave, awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been wrested from their homes and flung to the fighters.

The Trojan War is known as a man's story - a quarrel between men over a woman, stolen from her home and spirited across the sea. But what of the other women in this story, silenced by history? What words did they speak when alone with each other, in the laundry, at the loom, when laying out the dead?

In this historical novel, a brilliant and brutal retelling of Homer's Iliad, Pat Barker charts one woman's journey through the chaos of the Trojan War, as she struggles to free herself and to become the author of her own story.

In Episode 9, with Troy about to fall to the Greeks, Achilles and his men reflect over an evening meal.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

The final days of the battle for Troy. The Greeks prepare themselves for victory.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

10Episode 1020181005

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of Regeneration and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis's old life is shattered. She is transformed from queen to captive, from free woman to slave, awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been wrested from their homes and flung to the fighters.

The Trojan War is known as a man's story - a quarrel between men over a woman, stolen from her home and spirited across the sea. But what of the other women in this story, silenced by history? What words did they speak when alone with each other, in the laundry, at the loom, when laying out the dead?

In this historical novel, a brilliant and brutal retelling of Homer's Iliad, Pat Barker charts one woman's journey through the chaos of the Trojan War, as she struggles to free herself and to become the author of her own story.

In Episode 10, Hector's body is returned to Priam and a ceasefire is agreed for his burial and the funeral games. Briseis' plan to escape is abandoned, and she has returned to Achilles' hut.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

A ceasefire has been agreed while Hector's body is returned to his family.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

BAB0120180924

Pat Barker, the Booker Prize-winning author of the Regeneration trilogy and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war, reimagines the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War as chronicled by Homer in The Iliad.

When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis is transformed from a nineteen year old queen to a bed-gir', from a free woman to a slave, a thing. She is awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone. On the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been seized from the wreckage of their homes and flung to the fighters.

Pat Barker was prompted to write this story by the words of a professor in Philip Roth's novel, The Human Stain. The lines act as an epigraph:

"'You know how European literature begins?' he'd ask, after having taken the roll at the first class meeting. 'With a quarrel. All of European literature springs from a fight.' And then he picked up his copy of The Iliad and read to the class the opening lines. 'Divine Muse, sing of the ruinous wrath of Achilles . . . Begin where they first quarrelled, Agamemnon the King of men, and great Achilles.' And what are they quarrelling about, these two violent, mighty souls? It's as basic as a barroom brawl. They are quarrelling over a woman. A girl, really. A girl stolen from her father. A girl abducted in a war."

Years later, Briseis looks back on her time in the Greek camp at Troy and attempts to tell her own story.

Written by Pat Barker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Read by Nadine Marshall and Colin Salmon
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.

A brilliant and, at times, brutal retelling of Homer's The Iliad.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature