Natalie Haynes, master storyteller, Classics expert, and bestselling author of Pandora’s Jar. Stone Blind, A Thousand Ships, and more, delighted York’s Greek mythology fans the evening of the 19th of March with the presentation of her most recent book: Divine Might.
From the glorious heights of Mount Olympus to the dark depths of the Underworld, Natalie Haynes introduces us to the raw and real stories of some of the most known and respected Greek goddesses: the powerful and vengeful Hera, Aphrodite and her limitless passion, the brave huntress Artemis, the devoted Earth mother Demeter, Athene and her fierce wisdom, the peaceful and warm Hestia, the Muses, goddesses of inspiration and creativity, and the Furies, the chthonic goddesses of vengeance. We get to see them through new perspectives and breaking misconceptions while we learn their origin stories and the effects they had on ancient society as well as the influences they still hold in modern-day culture.
With her wit and creativity, Haynes transports the readers to the setting of Ancient Greece, where she gives a feminist outlook on the well-known stories of these important Greek personalities. In the presentation, she had the audience laughing while telling anecdotes and learning by explaining stories. Haynes’s personality in the panel was showcased in the book and vice versa, as she does an amazing job at entertaining while teaching.
For both established fans of the Classics as well as new entrants, it can be a bit complicated to immerse in all the history that revolves around Greek mythology for all the lore and knowledge it comprises. Yet Haynes manages to truly understand these characters from the well-known Greek myths, and gives them a voice that can be heard by readers in their words. One of the ways she achieves this is by using plenty of references from texts as ancient and elemental as Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Homer’s Iliad, but also from modern culture, such as the music video of the song “Rumors” by Lizzo and Cardi B, as well as popular comic books.
In the book presentation, held at St. Peter’s School as one of the York Literature Festival events, she focused on telling the stories of Aphrodite, Artemis, the Muses, and Athene. The panel room was filled with hundreds of readers of all ages, all interested in hearing Haynes’s thoughts and knowledge. At the end of the presentation, there was a section open for questions, but people were so eager to hear more stories that she ended up telling Athene’s. After that, readers proceeded to another room for the chance to meet the author and buy her books and get them signed. It was a great opportunity to share a few words with her and even get photos!
Divine Might is more than a retelling of the popular myths: it is a proof of the relevance they still hold in the modern world, and they shouldn’t lose their essence or importance. By exploring themes of love, vengeance, redemption, and power, we get to understand the universal truths and concepts that will forever prevail within humanity. Natalie Haynes proves to us the power of the divine feminine by combining history, mythology, and imagination.
Luciana Medrano