a blog about a novel about Aristotle's daughter ~ by Annabel Lyon
An exhilarating book, both brilliant and profound. Annabel Lyon’s spare, fluid, utterly convincing prose pulls us headlong into Aristotle’s original mind. Only Lyon’s great-hearted intelligence could have imagined and achieved the brave ambition of this book. Vital, ferocious and true, The Golden Mean is an oracular vision of the past made present.
--Marina Endicott, author of Good to a Fault
In Lyon’s clever hands, more than two thousand years of difference are made to disappear and Aristotle feels as real and accessible as the man next door. With this powerful, readable act of the imagination, Annabel Lyon proves that she can go anywhere it pleases her to go.
2 comments:
I recently read the Golden Mean, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Engrossing and brought back many memories of studying Latin and Classics as a young girl. However, I am confused about one thing. On page 245 Herpyllis says to Aristotle, "You wouldn't have known me, but I remember you. I went to work for you mother after you left home, and she sent me to you when you were married". Yet, early in the book you write about how Aristotle's parents both died when he was a young boy at which point he went to Athens so study at the academy. I would greatly appreciate if you could clear this up.
Thanks so much.
Christie Callan-Jones
Christie, thanks so much for your comment. The short answer is that this was a mistake! It's being corrected for the paperback. I only learned in the middle of writing the novel that Aristotle's parents died when he was still young, so that sentence was a fragment left over from an earlier draft. (An archeological fragment, if you will....) Thanks again for getting in touch, and for your kind words about the novel!
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