History & Criticism
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Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"Funny, sharp explications of what these sometimes not-very-nice women were up to, and how they sometimes made idiots of . . . but read on!"-Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale
The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships returns with a fascinating, eye-opening take on the remarkable women at the heart of classical stories Greek mythology from Helen of Troy to Pandora and the Amazons to Medea.
The tellers of Greek myths-historically men-have routinely sidelined the female characters. When they do take a larger role, women are often portrayed as monstrous, vengeful or just plain evil-like Pandora, the woman of eternal scorn and damnation whose curiosity is tasked with causing all the world's suffering and wickedness when she opened that forbidden box. But, as Natalie Haynes reveals, in ancient Greek myths there was no box. It was a jar . . . which is far more likely to tip over.
In Pandora's Jar, the broadcaster, writer, stand-up comedian, and passionate classicist turns the tables, putting the women of the Greek myths on an equal footing with the men. With wit, humor, and savvy, Haynes revolutionizes our understanding of epic poems, stories, and plays, resurrecting them from a woman's perspective and tracing the origins of their mythic female characters. She looks at women such as Jocasta, Oedipus' mother-turned-lover-and-wife (turned Freudian sticking point), at once the cleverest person in the story and yet often unnoticed. She considers Helen of Troy, whose marriage to Paris "caused" the Trojan war-a somewhat uneven response to her decision to leave her husband for another man. She demonstrates how the vilified Medea was like an ancient Beyonce-getting her revenge on the man who hurt and betrayed her, if by extreme measures. And she turns her eye to Medusa, the original monstered woman, whose stare turned men to stone, but who wasn't always a monster, and had her hair turned to snakes as punishment for being raped.
Pandora's Jar brings nuance and care to the millennia-old myths and legends and asks the question: Why are we so quick to villainize these women in the first place-and so eager to accept the stories we've been told?
"Funny, sharp explications of what these sometimes not-very-nice women were up to, and how they sometimes made idiots of . . . but read on!"-Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale
The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships returns with a fascinating, eye-opening take on the remarkable women at the heart of classical stories Greek mythology from Helen of Troy to Pandora and the Amazons to Medea.
The tellers of Greek myths-historically men-have routinely sidelined the female characters. When they do take a larger role, women are often portrayed as monstrous, vengeful or just plain evil-like Pandora, the woman of eternal scorn and damnation whose curiosity is tasked with causing all the world's suffering and wickedness when she opened that forbidden box. But, as Natalie Haynes reveals, in ancient Greek myths there was no box. It was a jar . . . which is far more likely to tip over.
In Pandora's Jar, the broadcaster, writer, stand-up comedian, and passionate classicist turns the tables, putting the women of the Greek myths on an equal footing with the men. With wit, humor, and savvy, Haynes revolutionizes our understanding of epic poems, stories, and plays, resurrecting them from a woman's perspective and tracing the origins of their mythic female characters. She looks at women such as Jocasta, Oedipus' mother-turned-lover-and-wife (turned Freudian sticking point), at once the cleverest person in the story and yet often unnoticed. She considers Helen of Troy, whose marriage to Paris "caused" the Trojan war-a somewhat uneven response to her decision to leave her husband for another man. She demonstrates how the vilified Medea was like an ancient Beyonce-getting her revenge on the man who hurt and betrayed her, if by extreme measures. And she turns her eye to Medusa, the original monstered woman, whose stare turned men to stone, but who wasn't always a monster, and had her hair turned to snakes as punishment for being raped.
Pandora's Jar brings nuance and care to the millennia-old myths and legends and asks the question: Why are we so quick to villainize these women in the first place-and so eager to accept the stories we've been told?
Editorial Reviews
"Funny, sharp explications of what these sometimes not-very-nice women were up to, and how they sometimes made idiots of . . . but read on!" - Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale
"Natalie Haynes is both a witty and an erudite guide. She wears her extensive learning lightly and deftly drags the Classics into the modern world. I loved it." - Kate Atkinson, author of Life After Life
"Natalie Haynes is beyond brilliant. Pandora's Jar is a treasure box of classical delights. Never has ancient misogyny been presented with so much wit and style." - Amanda Foreman, author of The World Made by Women
"Beyoncé, Star Trek, Ray Harryhausen . . . the most enjoyable book about Greek myths you will ever read, absolutely brimming with subversive enthusiasm." - Mark Haddon, author of The Porpoise and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
"Witty, erudite and subversive, this takes the women of Greek myth―the women who are sidelined, vilified, misunderstood or ignored―and puts them centre stage." - Samantha Ellis, author of How to Be a Heroine and Take Courage
"Natalie Haynes is [Britain's] muse." - Adam Rutherford, author of How to Argue with a Racist
"A hugely enjoyable and witty book, which will appeal to admirers of novels such as Madeline Miller's Circe, Kamila Shamsie's Home Fire, and Haynes's own fiction." - The Guardian
"Impassioned and informed . . . When Haynes gets down to retelling the stories . . . and teasing out their distortions and elisions, the book flies." - Sunday Times (UK)
"An erudite, funny and sometimes angry attempt to fill in the blank spaces." - Observer
"Classicist...
"Natalie Haynes is both a witty and an erudite guide. She wears her extensive learning lightly and deftly drags the Classics into the modern world. I loved it." - Kate Atkinson, author of Life After Life
"Natalie Haynes is beyond brilliant. Pandora's Jar is a treasure box of classical delights. Never has ancient misogyny been presented with so much wit and style." - Amanda Foreman, author of The World Made by Women
"Beyoncé, Star Trek, Ray Harryhausen . . . the most enjoyable book about Greek myths you will ever read, absolutely brimming with subversive enthusiasm." - Mark Haddon, author of The Porpoise and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
"Witty, erudite and subversive, this takes the women of Greek myth―the women who are sidelined, vilified, misunderstood or ignored―and puts them centre stage." - Samantha Ellis, author of How to Be a Heroine and Take Courage
"Natalie Haynes is [Britain's] muse." - Adam Rutherford, author of How to Argue with a Racist
"A hugely enjoyable and witty book, which will appeal to admirers of novels such as Madeline Miller's Circe, Kamila Shamsie's Home Fire, and Haynes's own fiction." - The Guardian
"Impassioned and informed . . . When Haynes gets down to retelling the stories . . . and teasing out their distortions and elisions, the book flies." - Sunday Times (UK)
"An erudite, funny and sometimes angry attempt to fill in the blank spaces." - Observer
"Classicist...
Readers Top Reviews
L MillsCaitriona Ree
Good background on the authors of ancient Greece. Very interesting to see the different versions of stories I've known and a few I didn't. Cleverly written with humor. Overall good pacing with just a couple of chapters that seemed overly repetitive. Glad to have added this to my mythology collection.
M. A. Klerx-Hardie
I hope that male readers can absorb ms. Haynes' carefully researched, sharp tongue in cheek analysis of the too heavily masculine renditions of mythical women!
Lynn
This is the book I’ve been recommending recently. Haynes’ take on these women from mythology is fresh and thought-provoking. I especially enjoy the connections to modern uses of the characters. I’ve also listened to the audio version, which Haynes reads herself. One of the best author readings I’ve heard.
aleigh_powers
This book deserves the highest praise. Incredibly well thought out. Giving depth to sidelined females, raising questions of motives where they've been taken for granted. 'A Thousand Ships' was utterly breathtaking, but this is something on another level, and I know it will stay with me for a very long time. Thank you for this literary treat!!
Katie
I don't even know where to start in telling you how much I enjoyed this book! I am not super familiar with many of the women in Greek myth, so I was going in somewhat blindly to this book. But I am almost glad I didn't have any preconceived notions about these women's stories. The author does a masterful job of providing a well-researched history of each of the women featured, parsing out the various versions across history. It's obviously an academic-type book, in that it is, as I said, well-researched, but it is also immensely entertaining. Ms. Haynes has a way of adding just the right sarcasm or tongue-in-cheek observation at just the right moment. I also want to compliment the editors for a well edited book; I didn't find any editing errors, which is a rarity! Anyway, if you're interested in Greek myths, or women's stories, or really anything, I think you'll enjoy this. If you don't particularly like women, or should I say, strong women, you might be disappointed. Bravo, Natalie Haynes! I look forward to reading more of your work!!
