46 pages • 1 hour read
Ursula K. Le GuinLavinia
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2008A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin reimagines part of Virgil’s Aeneid from the perspective of Aeneas’s wife, Lavinia, expanding her minor role in the epic. The novel delves into Lavinia's life, her interactions with her family, her friendship with a farmer’s daughter, and her eventual marriage to Aeneas. Lavinia’s awareness of her fictional status alters her view on fate, and as wars unfold, her story extends beyond Aeneas’s death to her own transformation. This novel includes discussions of death by suicide, enslavement, physical abuse, and child death.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
In Lavinia, Ursula K. Le Guin masterfully reimagines the life of a minor character from Virgil's Aeneid, providing her with a compelling voice and narrative. Critics praise the lyrical prose and deep historical context, though some note the slow pacing might deter certain readers. Overall, the novel is celebrated for its rich storytelling and feminist perspective.
Who Should Read Lavinia?
A reader who enjoys historical fiction with a mythological twist, akin to The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller or Circe by the same author, would be captivated by Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin. Lovers of classical literature and fans of epic narratives reimagined from a female perspective are ideal candidates for this novel.