While there are infinite ways to retell a beloved story, some of the most captivating retellings unfold from the point of view of a side character rather the original narrator or protagonist. What were the Bennets' household servants thinking while Elizabeth was falling in love? What was happening in the life of Mr. March, the mostly absent father in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women? And what about all the monsters and villains of literature who've rarely had the chance to tell their side of the story? Why did Circe keep Odysseus on her island for so long? Is Grendel, the monster in the epic poem Beowulf, really purely evil?
In these 15 listens, gifted authors reimagine myths, fairytales, and much-loved classics alike, putting a new spin on stories from Shakespeare to Brontë, The Aeneid to 1984. In these versions, characters that were left silent, overlooked, or reviled in the originals get a chance to shine. Once invisible younger sisters have rich internal lives; domestic workers are afforded their own agency; villains become complicated figures with unusual backstories. Whether you're an ardent fan of the source material or you only have a passing familiarity with the story, you'll nevertheless find a lot to love in these creative and compelling listens—and you'll never look at a side character the same way again.
Familiar stories, new perspectives—15 classics refreshingly retold by side characters
These creative, compelling listens reimagine beloved stories from new points of view, offering fresh takes on old favorites.
