Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan’s Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

Neaira grew up in a Corinthian brothel in the fourth century B.C., became a high-priced courtesan and a sex slave, then settled into a thirty-year relationship with Stephanos of Athens. But next she found herself in court, charged with transgressing Athens s marriage laws. This book reconstructs the amazing facts of Neaira s life and trial, illuminating the social, legal, and cultural worlds of ancient Greece.
Hamel s treatment of this complicated story is outstanding . . . for its comprehensive [yet remarkably concise] presentation of the social and historical context of fourth-century Athens. Ingrid D. Rowland, New Republic
[Trying Neaira]is an extraordinary tale, with more than an echo of Arthur Golden s Memoirs of a Geisha. Tom Holland, Daily Telegraph00
A marvelous account of a fascinating series of events in the life of a Greek woman of the fourth century B.C. Hamel tells the tale with clarity and verve and, along the way, she teaches the reader a vast amount about Athenian society in the most interesting and entertaining way. Donald Kagan, Yale University
Charmingly written (and) nicely illustrated. . . . Hamel s account is engaging, accessible to nonexperts, and useful for courses on Athenian society. Choice
As told by Debra Hamel, this true-life story offers an extraordinary window on a civilization that wasn t half so rarefied in its interests or affections as we tend to assume. The Scotsman