The Courtesan's Daughter

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

Phano is a young girl who is coming of age in Athens in ancient Greece
about 350 years B.C. She is the stepdaughter of a famous erstwhile slave
and courtesan who has run away from a former master who was illegally
holding her and her stepdaughter against their will.

Luckily, Phano’s father is a free citizen of Athens and, with the
help of an influential acquaintance, is able to resolve the situation.
Subsequently, the acquaintance and Phano fall in love and marry, but
their troubles have only just begun. The old enemy is still very much on
the scene.

This is a wonderful story of romance, adventure, and intrigue. The plot
is well constructed, and the pace moves along at a good clip. The
characters are well developed, and the dialogue is believable. Of note
is Nera, the stepmother, who brings an almost feminist quality to her
values, actions, and speech. Adolescents will be able to relate to
Phano’s dreams, attitudes, and problems, many of which are the
timeless concerns of teenagers in all epochs and cultures.

Lovers of history—and of classical Greece in particular—will enjoy
this novel immensely. The author has re-created the culture of the
ancient city–state of Athens, and the reader is drawn in and fully
immersed in that world. Readers will learn much about the customs,
traditions, politics, religion, and daily lives of Athenians without in
any way feeling subjected to a history lesson. Highly recommended.