Madeline Miller

In Ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece – the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen – the gift of life. Now his wife, Galatea is expected to be obedience and humility personified, but it is not long before she learns to use her beauty as a form of manipulation. In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, she is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost... From the Orange Prize-winning author of The Song of Achilles, this short story is a dazzling retelling of the myth of Galatea.

Short story

Galatea

A Short Story from the Author of the Song of Achilles and Circe

OH GOD... you people and your incest asodnweoin

Atli 💗🧚🏽‍♀️

The tea had passed through me and my head was clear. I thought, My daughter is ten. Paphos is ten.

Everyone looked at me, because I was the most beautiful woman in the town. I don’t say this to boast, because there is nothing in it to boast of. It was nothing I did myself.

My husband stared at me, and said, “You knew?”

I tried to explain, but it was too late. We were not allowed to walk anymore.

ladies and gentlemen... the original toxic couple !

“I will never run again, I swear on my life. I can barely stand when you leave me. I live every day yearning for you to come. You are my husband, and father.”

“Yes, and mother. And brother too. And lover. All of these.”

sit still and look pretty... must suck to have someone keep reminding you that they made you. 

I didn’t open my eyes, because my job was to lie on the couch without moving so that he might murmur, “Ah, my beauty is asleep.”

Panda Ä

And everyone would be happy, except for me.

Sephyrc 

But that is the mark of a good source myth; it is water so wide it can reach across centuries.

Rebeca Keren Nuñez

"Galatea" es una reimaginación audaz y fascinante del mito clásico griego de Pigmalión, escrito por Madeline Miller, autora aclamada por su enfoque innovador de la mitología griega y su habilidad para dar vida a los personajes y las historias del mundo antiguo.

En esta novela, Miller nos presenta a Galatea, una escultura de marfil creada por Pigmalión, un escultor talentoso y solitario que anhela la compañía de una mujer perfecta. Pero a diferencia del mito tradicional, en esta versión, Galatea cobra vida por sí misma, dotada de conciencia y libre albedrío. A través de los ojos de Galatea, el lector es llevado a un mundo de asombro y descubrimiento mientras ella explora su nueva existencia y busca comprender su lugar en el mundo.

Miller teje hábilmente temas de identidad, libertad y autodeterminación a lo largo de la historia de Galatea, explorando la lucha de la protagonista por encontrar su propia voz y definirse a sí misma en un mundo que la ve como poco más que una creación artística. La prosa de Miller es elegante y evocadora, sumergiendo al lector en la atmósfera mítica de la antigua Grecia y dando vida a los personajes con profundidad y emoción.

A través de su narrativa, Miller nos invita a reflexionar sobre la naturaleza del arte, la humanidad y el amor, mientras nos sumergimos en la historia de una figura clásica de la mitología que cobra nueva vida en sus manos expertas. "Galatea" es una obra conmovedora y profundamente original que cautiva al lector desde la primera página hasta la última, y demuestra una vez más el talento de Madeline Miller para reinventar y revitalizar los mitos antiguos para una nueva generación.

I absolutely adored this masterpiece! i really 

 more Madeline Miller books ASAP before I read "Song of Achilles." Cause then I'll have nothing else to read by her. :(

Anyways this was wonderful and I wish it were longer!

I absolutely adored this masterpiece! i really need more Madeline Miller books ASAP before I read "Song of Achilles." Cause then I'll have nothing else to read by her. :(

Anyways this was wonderful and I wish it were longer!

Isabella 

It's such a short story, but Madeline Miller somehow was able to pull me in the world. This story is dark, haunting, and upsetting. It's definitely not a beautiful story, but I would have loved to see this as a novel. The writing is beautifully done (as expected from Miller), and I love her version of this story. Despite this being so short, it was absolutely gut-wrenching, and she was still able to show all the themes perfectly. Definitely a recommend, and make sure to check trigger warnings.

Galatea : A Short Story

chloe rae

To say that I wished this was longer would be a massive understatement. 

Oh, how I love Madeline Miller. Read this in its entirety on one lengthy subway ride home and it was just perfection. Forever waiting for more to read from her!

Allie Johnson

“I felt him looking at me, admiring his work. He had not carved me like this, but he was imagining doing it. A beautiful statue, named The Supplicant.”
---------------------------------

Relentlessly cold, Galatea is as unforgiving as all Greek mythology would be -should be- if they were written by women.

There is a common thread in all ancient lore from the Greeks: the gods are capricious and wilful; the men are punished for their hubris; and the women are punished regardless. In the twists and turns of each story, it’s the women who suffer in silence and pay the price of men’s actions. It’s them who are punished for gods’ often unwelcome sexual advances, for men’s ambitions, for society's expectations.

And so, as nauseating and brutal as it is, Galatea is also clever with its defiance. It is the story of the silent and obedient perfection gone wily and sharp. And it is enough to flame the feminine rage that might be dormant inside you.

Short yet powerful and beautiful prose…idealization of women, the suppression and submission of women is broken through by this version of Galatea, free of the shackles of men who fear women’s independence 

Hans

Tatiana

LAST BOOK OF THE YEAR!!! It was pretty good but sad. Recommend reading the authors note at the end & trigger warnings. Reminded me a lot of Circe in finding a place in a world that denies you. Recommend if you’re looking for a super fast short read!

risa

maddie

valentine

Gorgeous little short story by one of my fav authors based off one of my fav Greek myths. 10/10 20min read. 

Madeleine Winterich

I loved this with all my heart. Read the afterword If u can, its so great

Marie

is it unfair to say I liked reading the afterword more than the short story itself? I love the process she describes of creating new content from mythology, and she rightly points out the inherent misogyny in pretty much all of Ovid (looking directly at you, Amores) and especially in pygmalion. I like that she gave the unnamed woman in that story not just a name but agency, character, and desire. it was really good for a short story! I think I just don’t like short stories bc I wanted this to be 10x longer :’)

fris🐝

I love the life that Miller breathes into these myths. Giving the woman a perspective, a 

 in this story and turning the tables. The irony of him begging a goddess to bring a woman to life from a statue and then becoming angry when she is more than an object. 

I think Miller put it beautifully in the afterword, “For a millennia there have been men who react with horror and disgust to women’s independence, men who desire women yet hate them, and who take refuge in fantasies of purity and control.”

Alli

I love the life that Miller breathes into these myths. Giving the woman a perspective, a name in this story and turning the tables. The irony of him begging a goddess to bring a woman to life from a statue and then becoming angry when she is more than an object. 

I think Miller put it beautifully in the afterword, “For a millennia there have been men who react with horror and disgust to women’s independence, men who desire women yet hate them, and who take refuge in fantasies of purity and control.”

taryn

Haunting, beautiful, as always Madeline Miller doesn't disappoint. Absolutely LOVED Ruth Wilson narrating this audiobook as well.

Geoffrey Froggatt

Madeline Miller’s writing sings strong and true even in a short story like this. I loved her take on Galatea’s story, and I recommend that anyone who loves Greek mythology and Madeline Miller read this short story. Madeline Miller’s writing is just as hauntingly lyrical and lovely as ever.

Very short and brief story that had me stopping at multiple times to center my thoughts and feelings. In such a small number of pages, I wanted to sit next to Galatea and offer a hug and a little compassion, I wanted to help her.

Definitely a read that I was not expecting to like as much as I did but one that I will probably read oonce more one day.

Selkie

Very short and brief story that had me stopping at multiple times to center my thoughts and feelings. In such a small number of pages, I wanted to sit next to Galatea and offer a hug and a little compassion, I wanted to help her.

Definitely a read that I was not expecting to like as much as I did but one that I will probably read oonce more one day.

Marian L

I adored both Circe and Song of Achilles so it was an easy pick.

Losely based on pygmalion, a sculpter is discenchated by the average woman, and creates his ideal in stone, which comes alive.

The narrator is the nameless woman, his wife, his muse, the mother of their half stone half human child.

She is locked up in a hospital and kept there.

The book explores domestic abuse in a very interesting way. I both wish the book was shorter and longer.

The book was narrated by the very talented Ruth Wilson. She could narrate a phonebook and make it appealing.

Highly recommend this disturbing and fascinating short story.

Suzanne

I adored both Circe and Song of Achilles so it was an easy pick.

Losely based on pygmalion, a sculpter is discenchated by the average woman, and creates his ideal in stone, which comes alive.

The narrator is the nameless woman, his wife, his muse, the mother of their half stone half human child.

She is locked up in a hospital and kept there.

The book explores domestic abuse in a very interesting way. I both wish the book was shorter and longer.

The book was narrated by the very talented Ruth Wilson. She could narrate a phonebook and make it appealing.

Highly recommend this disturbing and fascinating short story.

ARC was provided by Netgalley

A satisfying retelling of the Pygmalion myth, where Galatea is the beautiful statue brought to life by the gods as a gift to the sculptor. This time, we are told it from Galatea's perspective and see what kind of life she has with her maker/husband. Don't want to say much more than that, because it is so short. But even so, it feels complete in itself.

Cheryl Hedlund

miller’s voice is so distinct & nostalgic. a sweet short read that came at a serendipitous time

mira lee

Cloudface

If you enjoyed Circe, or if you want a sample of Madeline Miller’s work before diving into her full length novels, I highly recommend picking up this short story. It’s a powerful retelling that points out the disturbing implications of the original myth, much Circe and Song of Achilles.

Galatea Short story

Reviews

Highlights