If you loved
The Silence of the Girls
Pat Barker · Book · 2018
If The Silence of the Girls captivated you, you will appreciate these stories that reclaim marginalized voices from the crushing weight of historical power.
Films on the same thread
The Woman King
Gina Prince-Bythewood · Film · 2022
Much like the perspective shift in The Silence of the Girls, this film centers on women weaponizing their strength and reclaiming agency within a brutal, male-dominated military structure.
Troy
Wolfgang Petersen · Film · 2004
If you were drawn to the Trojan War setting of The Silence of the Girls, this epic provides the grand scale of the conflict viewed through a traditional, mythic lens.
I'm Still Here
Walter Salles · Film · 2024
The Silence of the Girls captures the trauma of women caught in political upheaval; this drama echoes that struggle, focusing on a woman finding resilience amidst a crushing regime.
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Film · 1928
This film mirrors the focus of The Silence of the Girls by elevating a historical woman whose voice was nearly erased, highlighting the injustice she faced at the hands of institutions.
Series on the same thread
My Brilliant Friend
Saverio Costanzo · Series · 2018
The Silence of the Girls highlights the importance of female witness and memory; this series captures that same intimate, retrospective power as a woman recounts her life and defining friendships.
The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller · Series · 2017
Fans of the visceral oppression depicted in The Silence of the Girls will recognize the same systemic subjugation here, where a woman must navigate a world designed to silence her.
The Ancient Magus' Bride
Series · 2017
Just as Briseis navigates a life of forced displacement in The Silence of the Girls, this story explores the trauma of a woman seeking self-discovery after a life of extreme neglect.
Scarlet Heart: Ryeo
Tong Hua · Series · 2016
The Silence of the Girls recontextualizes mythic history; similarly, this series places a modern woman into a historical power struggle, forcing her to adapt to an environment that treats her as property.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dark History
Audioboom Studios · Podcast · 2026
The Silence of the Girls uncovers the hidden truths of ancient war; this podcast continues that mission by investigating the dark, often ignored historical realities that shape our modern understanding.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
The Silence of the Girls demands that we look at the history of slavery and trauma; this podcast provides a necessary, rigorous critique of the systems that have long silenced such narratives.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Silence of the Girls based on a historical event?
The Silence of the Girls is a retelling of the Trojan War, a central Greek myth. The novel focuses on the perspective of Briseis, a queen whose city was destroyed during the conflict, providing a voice to a character who was historically overlooked in traditional accounts of the war.
Who is the primary narrator of The Silence of the Girls?
The Silence of the Girls is narrated by Briseis. She is depicted as a queen whose life was upended when her city was destroyed. The narrative centers on her experience as a witness to the events of the Trojan War, reclaiming a story that history previously left silent.
How is The Silence of the Girls described by critics?
Critics have described The Silence of the Girls as a chilling, powerful, and audacious work. It is recognized as a Guardian Best Book of the 21st Century and is noted for being written by an author at the height of her powers, offering a significant retelling of Greek mythology.
What is the premise of The Silence of the Girls?
The Silence of the Girls reimagines the Trojan War through the eyes of Briseis. Once a queen, she becomes a witness to the conflict after her city is destroyed. The novel gives a voice to this woman at the heart of the myth, whose perspective history had previously forgotten.