#1 London Times Bestseller “A gripping historical story.” —The Independent “This powerful . . . trilogy opener beautifully walks the line between gutting and hopeful.” —BuzzFeed, Best Books of March 2022 Sold by her impoverished mother. Enslaved in an infamous brothel in Pompeii. Determined to fight for her freedom at all costs. . . . Enter into the Wolf Den. Amara was once the beloved daughter of a doctor in Greece, until her father’s sudden death plunged her mother into destitution. Now Amara is a slave and prostitute in Pompeii’s notorious Wolf Den brothel or lupanar, owned by a cruel and ruthless man. Intelligent and resourceful, she is forced to hide her true self. But her spirit is far from broken. Buoyed by the sisterhood she forges with the brothel’s other women, Amara finds solace in the laughter and hopes they all share. For the streets of the city are alive with opportunity—here, even the lowest-born slave can dream of a new beginning. But everything in Pompeii has a price. How much will Amara’s freedom cost her? The Wolf Den is the first in a trilogy of novels about the lives of women in ancient Pompeii.
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About the author
Elodie Harper
Author
Elodie Lauren Geraldine Harper is an English author and journalist. She began her career working for the BBC and Channel 4 News before joining ITV News Anglia as a reporter. Her Pompeii-set novel The Wolf Den (2021), the first in a trilogy, became a #1 Sunday Times bestseller.
The Wolf Den
by Elodie Harper
Books Like The Wolf Den
If you're looking for books similar to The Wolf Den, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Circe
Madeline Miller
A powerful reimagining of a woman's story in ancient Greece, exploring themes of female empowerment and survival. Like Amara, the protagonist Circe struggles against societal constraints and fights for her own agency. The novel delves into mythology and the inner strength of a woman navigating a world dominated by powerful men. Miller's lyrical prose and deep character development make this a compelling historical fiction.
Pachinko
Min Jin Lee
An epic novel following a Korean family through generations of struggle and survival. While set in a different historical context, it shares themes of resilience, female agency, and community support. The novel explores how individuals maintain dignity and hope under challenging circumstances. Lee's narrative is both intimate and sweeping.
The Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller
Another Miller novel that reimagines classical mythology with a focus on human emotion and resilience. Set in ancient Greece, it explores themes of love, survival, and personal transformation. The narrative follows characters fighting against predetermined fates, similar to Amara's struggle for freedom. Miller's writing captures the complexity of human relationships in a historical context.
Homegoing
Yaa Gyasi
An epic novel tracing the descendants of two sisters from Ghana through generations of historical struggle. While different in setting, it shares themes of survival, sisterhood, and resilience against systemic oppression. The novel explores how individuals navigate and resist challenging social structures. Gyasi's powerful narrative connects personal stories to broader historical contexts.
The Color Purple
Alice Walker
A classic novel exploring African American women's experiences of survival and empowerment. Like The Wolf Den, it focuses on women supporting each other and finding strength in community. The novel traces a woman's journey from oppression to self-determination. Walker's powerful narrative challenges systemic racism and patriarchal structures.
Homegoing
Yaa Gyasi
An epic novel tracing the descendants of two sisters from Ghana through generations of historical struggle. While different in setting, it shares themes of survival, sisterhood, and resilience against systemic oppression. The novel explores how individuals navigate and resist challenging social structures. Gyasi's powerful narrative connects personal stories to broader historical contexts.
The Silence of the Girls
Pat Barker
A powerful retelling of the Iliad from the perspective of a female slave, Briseis. The novel gives voice to women traditionally marginalized in historical narratives. Similar to The Wolf Den, it explores themes of female survival, resilience, and solidarity in a brutal ancient world. Barker's narrative challenges traditional historical perspectives and centers women's experiences.
The Nightingale
Kristin Hannah
A historical novel about two sisters surviving World War II in France, exploring themes of female courage and resistance. Like The Wolf Den, it focuses on women's experiences during a challenging historical period. The novel demonstrates how women survive and support each other under extreme circumstances. Hannah's narrative is both emotionally powerful and historically rich.
Daughters of Rome
Kate Quinn
A vivid historical novel set in ancient Rome, focusing on women's experiences during a tumultuous period. The story follows multiple female characters navigating complex social structures and personal challenges. Like The Wolf Den, it explores themes of female resilience, sisterhood, and survival in a male-dominated society. Quinn's detailed historical research brings the era to life.
The Book of Longings
Sue Monk Kidd
A novel that gives voice to a silenced woman in biblical times, exploring themes of female empowerment and spiritual resilience. The protagonist, Ana, fights against societal constraints to pursue her own path. Similar to Amara, she demonstrates extraordinary strength and determination. Kidd's novel reimagines historical narratives from a feminist perspective.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot
A non-fiction narrative exploring the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used without her consent in groundbreaking medical research. While not fiction, it shares themes of female resilience and survival against systemic oppression. The book reveals the human story behind scientific advancement. Skloot's narrative is both investigative and deeply compassionate.
Lavinia
Ursula K. Le Guin
A historical novel that reimagines a minor character from Virgil's Aeneid as a complex, autonomous woman. Set in ancient Italy, the book explores themes of female agency and survival in a patriarchal society. Like Amara, Lavinia navigates a world that seeks to define and limit her. Le Guin's lyrical prose and deep character development make this a compelling read.
The Mercies
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
A historical novel set in 17th-century Norway, focusing on women's survival and solidarity in a harsh environment. The story explores themes of female resilience, community, and resistance against oppressive systems. Like The Wolf Den, it centers on women supporting each other in challenging circumstances. Hargrave's prose is both lyrical and powerful.
The Hidden Palace
Helene Wecker
A historical fantasy novel exploring themes of survival, identity, and transformation. Set in early 20th-century New York, it follows characters from different backgrounds struggling for freedom and self-determination. While different in setting, it shares themes of resilience and personal agency with The Wolf Den. The novel blends historical detail with magical realism.
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