Title: Pericles and Aspasia
Author: Yvonne Korshak
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Caryatid Imprint
Page Count: 500
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, ebook
Blurb: The debut historical novel from author Yvonne Korshak, Pericles and Aspasia, set in Ancient Greece, immerses readers in a time of radical new ideals through the epic love story of a general known as “the first citizen of Athens” and a courtesan with the mind of a philosopher.
A tale of courtesans, philosophers, and cunning political statesmen during a period when democracy bloomed and of architectural wonders, Pericles and Aspasia, is a literary feat, with a love story to rival Anthony and Cleopatra’s.
Two lovers crest the wave of the golden age of Athens: Pericles, statesman and general, and Aspasia, his courtesan, a philosopher’s daughter and a brilliant woman in her own right. In a world of hierarchies, he is at the top when she arrives as little more than flotsam cast up on Athenian shores. Their love transcends social sanctions, enduring and deepening despite the grave threat it presents to Pericles’ reputation as a leader of the Athenian democracy.
The novel unfolds against the background of the arts and history of the Golden Age seen through the eyes of two individuals who lent their particular intelligence and luster to make it “golden,” Pericles, the great orator and visionary of democracy and its most influential woman, Aspasia. Their story takes them from the Agora—Athens’ marketplace—to the Acropolis, from the mercantile, raunchy Athenian Port Piraeus across the Aegean Sea to East Greece. Pericles and Aspasia—together and apart—navigate treacherous paths from venal calculations to impassioned philosophical inquiry, from high-stakes sea battles to the passions of family life.
Pericles and Aspasia engages issues that are vital today—the paradoxes of democracy, the tensions of hierarchy, the ironies of gender, and others—but this novel is immersed in classical Athens: the city, its sunshine, its physical presence, its people and their struggles and aspirations.
Author Interview
At what point did you decide to be an author and what was your path to publication?
I had written quite a bit about art, all the while studying classical Athens to learn what I needed to know to write Pericles and Aspasia. But even “learning enough” can go too far. At a certain point, I said to myself, “Yvonne, if you haven’t learned enough to write your novel now, you never will.” And sat down to write Pericles and Aspasia in earnest.
What do you do when a new idea jumps out at you while you’re still working on a book? Do you chase the squirrel (aka “UP syndrome”) or do you finish your current project first?
Writing Pericles and Aspasia was always foremost in my mind so, when other ideas popped up, I took the time to jot them down—and then went right back to writing the book. Like Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey, I’ve stayed tied to the mast of my ship. Now that I’ve completed Pericles and Aspasia, I’m back at the mast, writing the sequel, The Sword of the War God.
Who is your favorite character to write, and why is that person your favorite? If picking a favorite character would be like picking a favorite child, which character seems to be the most demanding or your attention and detail as a writer?
I enjoyed writing about Aspasia, but it was very tricky because, although she was famous in her own time and in our time is an icon of an independent woman, there’s very little certain known about her. We do know that she came to Athens from abroad, earned her living as a hetaira (“courtesan,” “geisha,” “companion), and that Pericles, the leader of the Athenians, fell passionately in love with her and evidently divorced his wife to live with her, and they had a son, Young Pericles. There is good evidence that she conversed with the famous philosopher Plato who claims in his writing that she taught the philosopher Socrates the art of public speaking. The picture that emerges is that Aspasia was a woman who mattered in Athens at a time when most women lived secluded lives, under the thumbs of their male relatives. For Aspasia in my novel, some of her most thrilling moments are when she has the joy of seeing that people are listening to what she has to say and learning from her.
Tell us what you enjoy most about writing historical fiction.
The characters come to life so vividly in writing historical fiction, and are so friendly, that it’s impossible to be lonely. They move into our house and make themselves quite at home. They don’t help with cleaning up though, but on the other hand, they don’t make any mess at all. And I’m happy to have them.
Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in your jobs/education in your writing?
I decided to write a novel about Pericles and Aspasia while I was in college, but realized I needed a much deeper education in antiquity in order to bring the world of Pericles and Aspasia to vivid life. So I studied classical art, archaeology and literature in grad school and became an art historian, all the while, building my understanding of the classical world that underlies Pericles and Aspasia.
Do you identify with your main character or did you create a character that is your opposite?
Aspasia and I differ a lot, but I identify with her strongly. Even though her life story diverges from mine, in writing the book, I always felt I was looking at things through her eyes. I used my experiences to see and feel how she would respond to challenges, what she would do about the situations she found herself in, what she would think of the people she encountered, how she would interact with them, what she would find exciting, lovable, ironic, or unpleasant—and especially, what she would find amusing. What would make Aspasia smile?
Describe the book in 10 words or less for people who are just learning about it.
Pericles and Aspasia’s love brings the classical world to life.
Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?
My characters are very determined. I would like readers to take away from Pericles and Aspasia that in pursuing their goals, human beings encounter obstacles that seem overwhelming, but it is essential to persist.
What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author? What has been the best compliment?
Toughest criticism: You need to describe the appearance of your characters more fully.
Best compliment: A stellar evocation of Athens’ golden age, rich with historical insight.
Share some advice for aspiring authors. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Join writers’ groups, seek all the feedback on your writing you can find.
What is your favorite line from your book?
What more could a woman want? Quite a lot, actually.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love live theater. It was writing an essay in high school on ancient Greek theater that first opened my eyes to the wonders of classical antiquity. My husband and I go to theater often, and I have a blog called “Let’s Talk Off-Broadway.” I haven’t been blogging recently though, because I put all my energies in writing Pericles and Aspasia, and now its sequel.
What projects are you working on that people can look forward to?
I am currently completing the sequel to Pericles and Aspasia, Sword of the War God. Pericles and Aspasia is fundamentally a joyous book. Sword of the War God spins forward the underlying tragedy.
About the Author
Yvonne Korshak received her B.A. with honors from Harvard University, Masters in Classics and Classical Archaeology and PhD in Art History from the University of California, Berkeley.
As a professor at Adelphi University, she has taught Art History and topics in the Humanities, served as Chair of the Department of Art and Art History, Director of the Honors Program in Liberal Studies, and Director of a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute. She has written and spoken widely on topics of Greek art and archaeology and on European painting, particularly on van Gogh, Courbet, and David. Her blog, “Let’s Talk Off-Broadway,” focuses on art and theater.
She has excavated at Old Corinth, Greece, and has visited almost all the cities, towns, landscapes, and seascapes in Greece — and what today is Turkey — that figure in Pericles and Aspasia.
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Hi Julie,
Thanks for sharing the details about Yvonne Korshak’s debut historical novel, “Pericles and Aspasia.” The story sounds fascinating, and I can’t wait to immerse myself in the world of Ancient Greece through the epic love story of Pericles and Aspasia. I enjoyed reading the author interview and learning more about how she approached writing the book. Best wishes for the book tour!
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