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De macht van godinnen
Moed, verlangen, jaloezie en passie in Griekse mythen
Met haar kenmerkende geestige schrijfstijl maakt Natalie Haynes, bekroond classicus en auteur van De kruik van Pandora, de Griekse mythologie toegankelijk; dit keer onderzoekt ze de rol van de godinnen
In De macht van godinnenontmoeten we Athene, godin van de oorlog en wijsheid en de beschermster van Athene. We rennen mee met Artemis, godin van de jacht en beschermster van jonge meisjes (behalve van degenen die ze als offer wil hebben!). We leren Afrodite kennen, godin van seks en begeerte – die ook zeker niet te bescheiden is om je het leven zuur te maken als je haar op de zenuwen werkt. En dan is er de koningin van alle Olympische Hera, vrouw van Zeus, wier jaloezie op zijn affaires met stervelingen, nimfen en godinnen haar ertoe aanzet om uitgebreid en wreed wraak te nemen op degenen die haar onrecht hebben aangedaan.
Natalie Haynes vertelt ook over Demeter, godin van de landbouw en moeder van de ontvoerde Persephone, en over Hestia, godin van de haard en het offervuur. Ze leert ons het onsterfelijke lied van de Muzen en waarschuwt voor het vlammende karakter van de Furiën, de vuurspuwende wraakgodinnen uit de onderwereld. Deze godinnen zijn net zo aanbeden, machtig en vernietigend als hun mannelijke tegenhangers.
In De macht van godinnen geeft Haynes met de haar kenmerkende charme en humor een boeiend nieuw perspectief op de mythen waar we bekend mee dachten te zijn.
Met haar kenmerkende geestige schrijfstijl maakt Natalie Haynes, bekroond classicus en auteur van De kruik van Pandora, de Griekse mythologie toegankelijk; dit keer onderzoekt ze de rol van de godinnen
In De macht van godinnenontmoeten we Athene, godin van de oorlog en wijsheid en de beschermster van Athene. We rennen mee met Artemis, godin van de jacht en beschermster van jonge meisjes (behalve van degenen die ze als offer wil hebben!). We leren Afrodite kennen, godin van seks en begeerte – die ook zeker niet te bescheiden is om je het leven zuur te maken als je haar op de zenuwen werkt. En dan is er de koningin van alle Olympische Hera, vrouw van Zeus, wier jaloezie op zijn affaires met stervelingen, nimfen en godinnen haar ertoe aanzet om uitgebreid en wreed wraak te nemen op degenen die haar onrecht hebben aangedaan.
Natalie Haynes vertelt ook over Demeter, godin van de landbouw en moeder van de ontvoerde Persephone, en over Hestia, godin van de haard en het offervuur. Ze leert ons het onsterfelijke lied van de Muzen en waarschuwt voor het vlammende karakter van de Furiën, de vuurspuwende wraakgodinnen uit de onderwereld. Deze godinnen zijn net zo aanbeden, machtig en vernietigend als hun mannelijke tegenhangers.
In De macht van godinnen geeft Haynes met de haar kenmerkende charme en humor een boeiend nieuw perspectief op de mythen waar we bekend mee dachten te zijn.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2023
1232 people are currently reading
62009 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Haynes
28 books6,991 followersNatalie Haynes, author of THE FURIES (THE AMBER FURY in the UK), is a graduate of Cambridge University and an award-winning comedian, journalist, and broadcaster. She judged the Man Booker Prize in 2013 and was a judge for the final Orange Prize in 2012. Natalie was a regular panelist on BBC2’s Newsnight Review, Radio 4’s Saturday Review, and the long-running arts show, Front Row. She is a guest columnist for the The Independent and The Guardian. Her radio series, Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics, was first broadcast in March 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,725 reviews
January 15, 2024
4.5⭐️
“Not only did the ancient Greeks seem to have modelled gods in their mortal image, but they apparently chose their worst selves as the template.”
Having read and loved Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes, I was eager to read the author’s latest work of non-fiction and I was not disappointed! Meticulously researched, factual, informative, and laced with the author’s insightful observations and trademark wit, Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth is an immersive read.
While most existing texts (and much of the inspired art) depict female characters from the Greek myths predominantly from the male perspective which, though interesting, can certainly feel (on occasion) unidimensional, the author allows us to explore each of the goddesses and their myth with a fresh interpretation of their gifts and motivations, vices, and their lasting impact on the modern world. As the author states in her brilliant introduction, ” Women can now make art, and we require no one’s permission. We can create our own stories of all those gods and monsters and –if we choose –make them in our image.”
My favorites were the chapters on The Muses, Hestia, Demeter and The Furies but I did enjoy the remaining chapters on Hera, Athene, Artemis and Aphrodite as well. Referencing several sources, the author delves deep into the characters, their stories from the myths and how their stories have inspired various art forms all around the world ranging from paintings and sculptures and artifacts to movies, music and much more.
Please note that this is not a “retelling” but a series of discussions about the goddesses in Greek Myth drawn from various existing sources with the author’s observations interwoven throughout the chapters.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for the digital review copy of Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
“Not only did the ancient Greeks seem to have modelled gods in their mortal image, but they apparently chose their worst selves as the template.”
Having read and loved Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes, I was eager to read the author’s latest work of non-fiction and I was not disappointed! Meticulously researched, factual, informative, and laced with the author’s insightful observations and trademark wit, Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth is an immersive read.
While most existing texts (and much of the inspired art) depict female characters from the Greek myths predominantly from the male perspective which, though interesting, can certainly feel (on occasion) unidimensional, the author allows us to explore each of the goddesses and their myth with a fresh interpretation of their gifts and motivations, vices, and their lasting impact on the modern world. As the author states in her brilliant introduction, ” Women can now make art, and we require no one’s permission. We can create our own stories of all those gods and monsters and –if we choose –make them in our image.”
My favorites were the chapters on The Muses, Hestia, Demeter and The Furies but I did enjoy the remaining chapters on Hera, Athene, Artemis and Aphrodite as well. Referencing several sources, the author delves deep into the characters, their stories from the myths and how their stories have inspired various art forms all around the world ranging from paintings and sculptures and artifacts to movies, music and much more.
Please note that this is not a “retelling” but a series of discussions about the goddesses in Greek Myth drawn from various existing sources with the author’s observations interwoven throughout the chapters.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for the digital review copy of Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
October 2, 2023
If oxen and lions and horses had hands like men, and could draw and make works of art, horses would draw gods like horses, and oxen like oxen, and each would draw pictures of the gods as if they had bodies like their own.
But what would the goddess-lionesses look like?
This one was much better than I expected!
"When women make art like men do, their goddesses look divine."
A nonfiction mythology about Goddesses and this time written and interpreted by a woman, "Women can now make art, and we require no one’s permission. We can create our own stories of all those gods and monsters, and –if we choose –make them in our image."
At first, I thought might enjoy the author's viewpoint on goddesses but as as I kept reading, I began to wonder how often my own opinions matched hers.
After the introduction and the Muses chapter, the first goddess is Hera. The one who was always pictured as a jealous wife and wily. Of course, I had a problem with that, for sake, we are talking about Zeus, what else she could do?!
"Beautiful, jealous, destructive, comical: the peacock was the perfect match for Hera, the goddess everyone loves to hate. Before we go any further, I should explain that I do not love to hate her."
Me too, and yes, she has been misrepresented.
The next two goddesses are Aphrodite and Artemis. I like the description of Natalie Haynes of Artemis, she never really was the protector of animals or girls!
Demeter is one of my favorites, the way she turns the world upside down as no gods or goddesses could calm her down for the sake of her daughter.
"Not knowing the fate of a loved one is a catastrophic double loss, where imagination forces those left behind to grieve again and again."
Hestia, the oldest Kronos child in many references also does not have many tales.
"She is the heart of your home and mine, the heart of our cities and temples alike. She is our warm homecoming, our baked bread, our light in the dark."
The last one is tricky, I always find myself questioning whether I love or hate her. It's funny that the author also seems to struggle with this character's complexity. Athene, the goddess of wisdom, sometimes behaves like an eight-year-old child. I've also never seen her as a female favoritism...
"She does tend to prefer men, even if she isn’t keen to have sex with one; she doesn’t tend to support women...
Athene doesn’t hate competitiveness, she loves it. What she hates – above all else – is losing."
The final chapter discusses the role of the Furies in ancient mythology and why they were needed.
"If clear water is tainted by filth, you’ll never find a drink.
Advice we might all do well to remember next time someone tells us that, for example, a certain amount of corruption in politics is to be expected."
My huge thanks to Pan Macmillan for giving me a chance to read Divine Might (Goddesses in Greek Myth) by Natalie Haynes via NetGalley. I have given my honest review.
But what would the goddess-lionesses look like?
This one was much better than I expected!
"When women make art like men do, their goddesses look divine."
A nonfiction mythology about Goddesses and this time written and interpreted by a woman, "Women can now make art, and we require no one’s permission. We can create our own stories of all those gods and monsters, and –if we choose –make them in our image."
At first, I thought might enjoy the author's viewpoint on goddesses but as as I kept reading, I began to wonder how often my own opinions matched hers.
After the introduction and the Muses chapter, the first goddess is Hera. The one who was always pictured as a jealous wife and wily. Of course, I had a problem with that, for sake, we are talking about Zeus, what else she could do?!
"Beautiful, jealous, destructive, comical: the peacock was the perfect match for Hera, the goddess everyone loves to hate. Before we go any further, I should explain that I do not love to hate her."
Me too, and yes, she has been misrepresented.
The next two goddesses are Aphrodite and Artemis. I like the description of Natalie Haynes of Artemis, she never really was the protector of animals or girls!
Demeter is one of my favorites, the way she turns the world upside down as no gods or goddesses could calm her down for the sake of her daughter.
"Not knowing the fate of a loved one is a catastrophic double loss, where imagination forces those left behind to grieve again and again."
Hestia, the oldest Kronos child in many references also does not have many tales.
"She is the heart of your home and mine, the heart of our cities and temples alike. She is our warm homecoming, our baked bread, our light in the dark."
The last one is tricky, I always find myself questioning whether I love or hate her. It's funny that the author also seems to struggle with this character's complexity. Athene, the goddess of wisdom, sometimes behaves like an eight-year-old child. I've also never seen her as a female favoritism...
"She does tend to prefer men, even if she isn’t keen to have sex with one; she doesn’t tend to support women...
Athene doesn’t hate competitiveness, she loves it. What she hates – above all else – is losing."
The final chapter discusses the role of the Furies in ancient mythology and why they were needed.
"If clear water is tainted by filth, you’ll never find a drink.
Advice we might all do well to remember next time someone tells us that, for example, a certain amount of corruption in politics is to be expected."
My huge thanks to Pan Macmillan for giving me a chance to read Divine Might (Goddesses in Greek Myth) by Natalie Haynes via NetGalley. I have given my honest review.
dnf
November 9, 2023The introductions to Greek goddesses in this book are more heavily tied to pop culture than I anticipated, so I'm shelving this for now. Will perhaps revisit at another date.
December 27, 2023
As much as I have loved all of Natalie Haynes’ previous work, I have to say that the amount of unnecessary, suuuper dated and irrelevant pop culture references and jokes that dont always land makes this book seem like a desperate attempt to make greek myths seem “relevant” (they are, we don’t need such a desperate reassurance) and “cool with the kids”, a treatment that tthey neither need nor deserve. The book just ends up feeling cringe and desperate at times, which truly ruins the enjoyment of some amazing analysis of ancient greek mythology, history and philology. Truly a shame that the author seemed to feel that that wasn’t enough. I truly hate to give this book such a low rating.
March 2, 2024
It's no secret that I'm a fan of both mythology and this author so when she announced that she'd be writing / publishing a book about the female gods of Greek mythology, I had to get it of course!
We thus axamine how the world has seen and still does see 9 goddesses:
the muses, Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis, Demeter, Hestia, Athene and the furies.
That we look at these and 9 in total is no accident since the muses themselves number 9 in total (except for in the Disney movie).
I like that the author, while obviously taking a modern and feminist view on things, is never militantly feminist but simply points out mistakes in translations, questionable choices made in how stories are told and later modifications, as well as overall sexist differences in viewing the male gods/heroes but not the female ones.
This books does not claim to be the one book to tell you all about the Greek pantheon. Rather, it expects you to already know at least a little about them (even if it is through pop culture, Haynes isn't discriminating against movie lovers) and then points out a few interesting details. What you take away from it is up to you.
As I've come to expect from this author, the writing flows nicely, what we're told/shown is never boring and literally listening to the author (Haynes narrates the audiobook version herself) was absolutely nice because she has such a wonderful voice and is a total nerd, which is nothing short of endearing. :D
Total recommendation!
We thus axamine how the world has seen and still does see 9 goddesses:
the muses, Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis, Demeter, Hestia, Athene and the furies.
That we look at these and 9 in total is no accident since the muses themselves number 9 in total (except for in the Disney movie).
I like that the author, while obviously taking a modern and feminist view on things, is never militantly feminist but simply points out mistakes in translations, questionable choices made in how stories are told and later modifications, as well as overall sexist differences in viewing the male gods/heroes but not the female ones.
This books does not claim to be the one book to tell you all about the Greek pantheon. Rather, it expects you to already know at least a little about them (even if it is through pop culture, Haynes isn't discriminating against movie lovers) and then points out a few interesting details. What you take away from it is up to you.
As I've come to expect from this author, the writing flows nicely, what we're told/shown is never boring and literally listening to the author (Haynes narrates the audiobook version herself) was absolutely nice because she has such a wonderful voice and is a total nerd, which is nothing short of endearing. :D
Total recommendation!
March 29, 2025
All in all, I liked it. It offers an engaging perspective on Greek goddesses, highlighting their power and influence while connecting them to modern pop culture, showing how these myths still have a strong presence and relevance today. Stories and culture continue to draw inspiration from them.
However, the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming (or at least it was for me) especially for those not deeply familiar with mythology. The narrative jumps quickly between different myths, interpretations, and contemporary references, making it difficult to follow at times. While providing both Greek and Roman names for each deity was helpful, it also added to the already dense list of names and details, contributing to the sense of overload.
Overall, an insightful read with a strong feminist perspective, but the structure and depth of information can make it challenging to absorb.
However, the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming (or at least it was for me) especially for those not deeply familiar with mythology. The narrative jumps quickly between different myths, interpretations, and contemporary references, making it difficult to follow at times. While providing both Greek and Roman names for each deity was helpful, it also added to the already dense list of names and details, contributing to the sense of overload.
Overall, an insightful read with a strong feminist perspective, but the structure and depth of information can make it challenging to absorb.
November 19, 2023
4/5
Look at the great gifts the gods have given you, Athene's tapestry proclaims. Arachne's response is very detailed in its execution, but very simple in its message: the price is too high.
This was absolutely amazing! With immeasurable skill and wit, Haynes takes us through a fascinating journey of Greek goddesses and their lasting effects on our modern world. She questions the very structures of their myths when they have only been recorded by men, develops why this perception is so fundamental in how we understand these myths now, and uses modern media to parallel her points. Every moment of this book is so interesting.
It's blatantly clear how knowledgeable and intelligent Haynes is, yet she always keeps it accessible. You could read this book without having any knowledge at all of Greek mythology, Haynes does such a brilliant job of this whilst also making it absorbing for a more seasoned Greek mythology reader/enjoyer.
I highly recommend this book if you have any interest at all in Greek mythology. Haynes covers a vast array of goddesses and pulls from various texts to tell their stories in a very fluid way, making sure to still tell them with immense detail and understanding. This is an amazing chapter of learning in a nonfiction comprehension of feminist Greek mythology reclamations.
Look at the great gifts the gods have given you, Athene's tapestry proclaims. Arachne's response is very detailed in its execution, but very simple in its message: the price is too high.
This was absolutely amazing! With immeasurable skill and wit, Haynes takes us through a fascinating journey of Greek goddesses and their lasting effects on our modern world. She questions the very structures of their myths when they have only been recorded by men, develops why this perception is so fundamental in how we understand these myths now, and uses modern media to parallel her points. Every moment of this book is so interesting.
It's blatantly clear how knowledgeable and intelligent Haynes is, yet she always keeps it accessible. You could read this book without having any knowledge at all of Greek mythology, Haynes does such a brilliant job of this whilst also making it absorbing for a more seasoned Greek mythology reader/enjoyer.
I highly recommend this book if you have any interest at all in Greek mythology. Haynes covers a vast array of goddesses and pulls from various texts to tell their stories in a very fluid way, making sure to still tell them with immense detail and understanding. This is an amazing chapter of learning in a nonfiction comprehension of feminist Greek mythology reclamations.
July 20, 2025
“But I can’t help wondering if there is some sort of recognition for the idea that female gods–who held power and autonomy that female humans were not permitted to have–might well not want a male partner.”
I really enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun listening to it, Natalie Haynes's voice gives it a more real portrayal of how she feels about the goddesses and the historical context in which the myths were written, her sense of humour really shines through the pages of the book.
The way the stories of the goddesses are told and the different sources for how their myths grew, the knowledge and source material are vast and to be able to summarize it all in one book that manages to capture the attention of the reader is an incredible feat, it's also quite remarkable how intricated these stories are in the present-day world even if we are aware of it or not, western civilization has a strong influence of greek myths.
Honestly, I could have listened for hours on end to the stories of these gods and goddesses.
I really enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun listening to it, Natalie Haynes's voice gives it a more real portrayal of how she feels about the goddesses and the historical context in which the myths were written, her sense of humour really shines through the pages of the book.
The way the stories of the goddesses are told and the different sources for how their myths grew, the knowledge and source material are vast and to be able to summarize it all in one book that manages to capture the attention of the reader is an incredible feat, it's also quite remarkable how intricated these stories are in the present-day world even if we are aware of it or not, western civilization has a strong influence of greek myths.
Honestly, I could have listened for hours on end to the stories of these gods and goddesses.
August 12, 2023
So this is non-fiction account of female figures in Greek myth in that it uses examples both ancient and modern to flesh out our favourite goddesses/major figures. These are Natalie Haynes favourites that she'd like in a modern pantheon.
There were some minor parts that had me a little lost but on the whole I loved this book. It was smart and funny and a massive amount of research has obviously gone into it.
We all have our favourites and I'd have loved to see the Gorgons in there but at least we had The Furies and since I am reading House of Odysseus by Claire North as well the two dovetailed beautifully giving me a second look at Athena, Aphrodite, Hera etc. We also get a look at less showy goddesses eg Hestia and Demeter.
There are lots of feminist re-tellings of Greek myth - some good, some not so much - but this just gives you the concrete "facts" surrounding these women.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in Greek myth.
Thanks to Netgalley and Picador for the advance review copy.
There were some minor parts that had me a little lost but on the whole I loved this book. It was smart and funny and a massive amount of research has obviously gone into it.
We all have our favourites and I'd have loved to see the Gorgons in there but at least we had The Furies and since I am reading House of Odysseus by Claire North as well the two dovetailed beautifully giving me a second look at Athena, Aphrodite, Hera etc. We also get a look at less showy goddesses eg Hestia and Demeter.
There are lots of feminist re-tellings of Greek myth - some good, some not so much - but this just gives you the concrete "facts" surrounding these women.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in Greek myth.
Thanks to Netgalley and Picador for the advance review copy.
January 20, 2024
This book reads like the author was assigned a Lit Review on the Greek Goddess and there was a large required word count.
If you’re interested in pompous writing and long winded synopsis about movies like The Hunger Games and every other movie that has the smallest connection to a Greek goddess… then this book is for you!
P.S. I will never stop reading fanfiction about Hades and Persephone being in love… sorry not sorry Natalie Haynes.
If you’re interested in pompous writing and long winded synopsis about movies like The Hunger Games and every other movie that has the smallest connection to a Greek goddess… then this book is for you!
P.S. I will never stop reading fanfiction about Hades and Persephone being in love… sorry not sorry Natalie Haynes.
September 28, 2023
A lot of these conclusions seemed not only obvious to a 21st century reader but they are also expressed in a very try-hard way. I understand it’s for more casual readers, but I still found it neither insightful nor particularly clever. As someone who has studied a lot of these texts it was quite bland and meandering.
January 14, 2025
You can’t go wrong with Natalie Haynes.
My favorite chapter had to be the one about Hestia. Admittedly I did not know much about her but she’s so underrated: an unproblematic goddess who minds her business and doesn’t turn mortal women into cows or spiders out of spite! We stan 👑
My favorite chapter had to be the one about Hestia. Admittedly I did not know much about her but she’s so underrated: an unproblematic goddess who minds her business and doesn’t turn mortal women into cows or spiders out of spite! We stan 👑
Read
October 27, 2023Ultimate girl crush (not sure if that’s the goddesses or Natalie Haynes)
March 20, 2025
natalie haynes is my god and i worship at her alter
November 1, 2024
"Perhaps this is key to all these deities: they are unchanging, after all, they are immortal. But there is something about Aphrodite that reminds me of women applying their lipstick in a war zone: you can't take away her game face."
3,75 stars. Compared to Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths, I much prefer this book. Ever since I was a young girl, I've read a lot about Greek mythology and yet Haynes brought a lot of information to the table that I had never heard off. The chapter about Hestia alone warmed my heart(h).
Haynes' writing - bringing the classical texts and plays together with modern (pop)culture examples - hasn't changed, but it's better balanced this time. She knows when it's time for wit or a weighty voice, shows us how mistakes in translations can change the tone of the whole story, and allows the reader to drawn their own conclusions about why modern versions survive while the original text actually tells us something different.
A lot of stories about Goddesses like Hestia, Athene and the Furies were also new to me and showed a different side to these divine women than I was familiar with. I actually got chills while reading the chapter dedicated to Demeter. Haynes makes you feel a mother's destructive fury, menis about her daughter's horrific abduction.
Modern retellings love to spin Hades & Persephone into a dark, seductive romance and make Demeter the nagging villain - but there is nothing feminist about building a young girl up and tearing an older woman down.
Not every classicist will enjoy Haynes's light writing style, but I found this a refreshing and insightful novel. If you are a Greek mythology-fan and are looking for something new, this would be a great pick for you.
3,75 stars. Compared to Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths, I much prefer this book. Ever since I was a young girl, I've read a lot about Greek mythology and yet Haynes brought a lot of information to the table that I had never heard off. The chapter about Hestia alone warmed my heart(h).
Haynes' writing - bringing the classical texts and plays together with modern (pop)culture examples - hasn't changed, but it's better balanced this time. She knows when it's time for wit or a weighty voice, shows us how mistakes in translations can change the tone of the whole story, and allows the reader to drawn their own conclusions about why modern versions survive while the original text actually tells us something different.
"Whether Ovid shares Arachne's view is unimportant. What matters is that he is perfectly aware of her feelings about the pain inflicted by these gods in their cruelty, and his version of Arachne is given the space to express it. Look at the great gifts the gods have given you, Athene's tapestry proclaims. Arachne's response is very detailed in its execution, but very simple in its message: the price is too high."
A lot of stories about Goddesses like Hestia, Athene and the Furies were also new to me and showed a different side to these divine women than I was familiar with. I actually got chills while reading the chapter dedicated to Demeter. Haynes makes you feel a mother's destructive fury, menis about her daughter's horrific abduction.
Modern retellings love to spin Hades & Persephone into a dark, seductive romance and make Demeter the nagging villain - but there is nothing feminist about building a young girl up and tearing an older woman down.
Not every classicist will enjoy Haynes's light writing style, but I found this a refreshing and insightful novel. If you are a Greek mythology-fan and are looking for something new, this would be a great pick for you.
December 17, 2023
If we have learned nothing else from myths, folklore and fairy tales, we should at least know this. If an old woman approaches you and asks for anything, or suggests anything, you always, always say yes, and thank you very much for asking. There is an almost zero chance that she is an actual old lady and not a goddess, a witch or an enchantress in disguise. You either change your offending behaviour immediately or – and this is the best-case scenario – you find yourself stuck in a castle full of singing furniture, with one erratic houseplant your only hope of salvation.Natalie Haynes names Dido “one of the greatest broken hearts in ancient poetry,” and boy was that a throwback! I took Latin as one of my subjects on the BAC exam and got a fragment from Book Four of Virgil’s Aeneid—the tragic story of Dido, abandoned by her lover Aeneas when he leaves Carthage for Italy. I was asked to write an essay and give it a title. To this day, I think the teachers correcting my paper must have liked my essays enough to ignore a possibly wrong answer I gave to one of the multiple-choice questions. I got a 10/10. The title was “Procella Amoris.”
October 14, 2023
Really insightful and well put together look at the Greek Goddesses and how they've been shaped by a male gaze, as well as their influence on current day culture, art, music and film. Obviously I personally loved the chapters on Artemis and the obvious link with Katniss Evergreen, but also the more thought provoking discussion around Aphrodite and Athene and their lasting legacies. Throughout there's this discussion about loosing your voice bring the most powerless thing that can happen to an individual - being turned into a cow or deer for example, but also again this idea that women were constantly without a voice or opinion.
I always love Natalie Haynes writing, whether it's fiction or non fiction she has such an eloquent way of putting her opinion across in a way that educates without sounding condescending. For someone such as myself who really enjoys Greek and Roman mythology, I still came away with new perspectives and ideas and overall it just makes the myths feel exciting and fresh again. Highly recommend.
I always love Natalie Haynes writing, whether it's fiction or non fiction she has such an eloquent way of putting her opinion across in a way that educates without sounding condescending. For someone such as myself who really enjoys Greek and Roman mythology, I still came away with new perspectives and ideas and overall it just makes the myths feel exciting and fresh again. Highly recommend.
March 11, 2024
4.5/5 stars
as an avid lover of greek mythology (obviously!) of course I enjoyed this. but let’s be real, it is so incredibly saturated in our western society. year after year there are a dozen books published relating to it in some way or another and dare I say……. most of them aren’t very good…
when I find an author that can successfully take on the gauntlet of these ancient stories, I take note of it.
it’s one thing to recount greek myths but if who can provide new insights and perspectives I haven’t thought of.. that’s when it’s really special. I mean, isn’t that the whole point of stories that continuously are told?
loved this. can’t wait to read everything else this author has and will write.
as an avid lover of greek mythology (obviously!) of course I enjoyed this. but let’s be real, it is so incredibly saturated in our western society. year after year there are a dozen books published relating to it in some way or another and dare I say……. most of them aren’t very good…
when I find an author that can successfully take on the gauntlet of these ancient stories, I take note of it.
it’s one thing to recount greek myths but if who can provide new insights and perspectives I haven’t thought of.. that’s when it’s really special. I mean, isn’t that the whole point of stories that continuously are told?
loved this. can’t wait to read everything else this author has and will write.
June 9, 2024
DNF at 58%
The irritating jokiness mashed into classical Ancient Greek stories; the constant insertions of her own opinions and glosses; the endless launches into the story of a goddess told through pop culture (although obscure films from the 80s can hardly be called ‘pop’): this is really not doing it for me. And Natalie’s narration on the audiobook, for someone who is literally a media performer as part of her day job, is bizarre. Her intonation is so annoyingly flat and deadpan. She does that thing where she doesn’t really pay attention to her own punctuation and reads the prose as if it’s poetry.
The thing that really did it for me was all the Hades and Persephone moralising. Oh, girl. This is not 2014 and we are all fully aware of how problematic the story is? God. But then it turns into a full-on rant (and she even comes for Twilight?). Just boring. So boring. And then whilst accusing everyone of being un-feminist (how dare you enjoy something in fiction?!) she tries to paint Ancient Greek writers of other goddesses as way more proto-feminist than they can be credibly be thought of as — essentially regarding them as people, rather than characters. And it’s fucking me off. We’re done!
The irritating jokiness mashed into classical Ancient Greek stories; the constant insertions of her own opinions and glosses; the endless launches into the story of a goddess told through pop culture (although obscure films from the 80s can hardly be called ‘pop’): this is really not doing it for me. And Natalie’s narration on the audiobook, for someone who is literally a media performer as part of her day job, is bizarre. Her intonation is so annoyingly flat and deadpan. She does that thing where she doesn’t really pay attention to her own punctuation and reads the prose as if it’s poetry.
The thing that really did it for me was all the Hades and Persephone moralising. Oh, girl. This is not 2014 and we are all fully aware of how problematic the story is? God. But then it turns into a full-on rant (and she even comes for Twilight?). Just boring. So boring. And then whilst accusing everyone of being un-feminist (how dare you enjoy something in fiction?!) she tries to paint Ancient Greek writers of other goddesses as way more proto-feminist than they can be credibly be thought of as — essentially regarding them as people, rather than characters. And it’s fucking me off. We’re done!
May 27, 2024
The male gods are always the star of the show. Or have been until Haynes came along to shake things up.
Haynes shares the goddesses side of the story, both major and minor. She shares their strengths and weaknesses and shows why we love or despise them.
Haynes writes (and narrates the audiobook) with humour and wit that has you laughing at centuries old mythology and modern culture references and perceptions.
She makes this relevant for modern readers by describing films that depict characters from Greek mythology including Xanadu and the Disney cartoon Hercules. She talks about comic books and how other popular characters take inspiration from Greek mythology.
Bookstagram
Haynes shares the goddesses side of the story, both major and minor. She shares their strengths and weaknesses and shows why we love or despise them.
Haynes writes (and narrates the audiobook) with humour and wit that has you laughing at centuries old mythology and modern culture references and perceptions.
She makes this relevant for modern readers by describing films that depict characters from Greek mythology including Xanadu and the Disney cartoon Hercules. She talks about comic books and how other popular characters take inspiration from Greek mythology.
Bookstagram
February 24, 2024
A bit disappointing, but some parts were interesting. I was hoping for more of a retelling from a feminist perspective, but it was more of an essay on her thoughts. Filled with tangents that were way too long from that one movie she saw in 1990. I liked the Artemis chapter the best, maybe because she’s always been my fav. She made an interesting comparison to the hunger games and I didn’t realize how much Katniss was shaped by Greek myth.
June 16, 2025
The Top Six + The Muses & The Furies
A review of the HarperAudio audiobook (January 2, 2024) narrated by the author of the Picador hardcover original (September 28, 2023).
This was another mythology related collection by classical populist Natalie Haynes that I picked up as an Audible Daily Deal. I had recently listened to The Children of Jocasta (2017) and enjoyed this later work as well. This audiobook is narrated by the author herself which adds both a further comedic and occasionally sardonic edge in keeping with her podcast series (see at the bottom in Trivia and Links for that).
Family tree including the top 6 Greek Goddesses. Image sourced from The Ultimate Greek Gods Family Tree.
Despite the sweeping title, only the top six Goddesses (Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis, Demeter, Hestia, Athene) are covered at length, although others are mentioned in passing. There was also a chapter for The 9 Muses and another for The 3 Furies. A complete list of Greek Goddesses would number several dozen, although that list includes various Primordials, Titans, Nymphs and such. *Pro-Tip* I learned that the name of Nyx, the primordial Goddess of Night, was pronounced Nuks rather than Nix 😅.
Haynes covers the various interpretations of the goddesses from the Greek myths and plays, the epic poems (Homer, Ovid, etc.), sculptures from ancient days to modern paintings and then even in film and television. Much will perhaps already be familiar to you from your general knowledge but Haynes always finds ways to provide an entertaining and often unexpected slant to things.
Trivia and Links
Four of the major Greek Goddesses are the topics in the BBC4 podcast series Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics. You can listen to Artemis, Aphrodite, Athene and Demeter.
A review of the HarperAudio audiobook (January 2, 2024) narrated by the author of the Picador hardcover original (September 28, 2023).
It’s fascinating that fully half of these six major goddesses have sworn off sex and marriage, given that they were worshipped during times when ordinary women had little choice about marriage, and almost no opportunity to reject it as a way of life. Perhaps the only thing we can read into this mismatch is that gods occupy a different plane from mortals and so would live unimaginable lives, and that being unmarried is as natural for a goddess (and unnatural for a mortal).
This was another mythology related collection by classical populist Natalie Haynes that I picked up as an Audible Daily Deal. I had recently listened to The Children of Jocasta (2017) and enjoyed this later work as well. This audiobook is narrated by the author herself which adds both a further comedic and occasionally sardonic edge in keeping with her podcast series (see at the bottom in Trivia and Links for that).
Family tree including the top 6 Greek Goddesses. Image sourced from The Ultimate Greek Gods Family Tree.
Despite the sweeping title, only the top six Goddesses (Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis, Demeter, Hestia, Athene) are covered at length, although others are mentioned in passing. There was also a chapter for The 9 Muses and another for The 3 Furies. A complete list of Greek Goddesses would number several dozen, although that list includes various Primordials, Titans, Nymphs and such. *Pro-Tip* I learned that the name of Nyx, the primordial Goddess of Night, was pronounced Nuks rather than Nix 😅.
Haynes covers the various interpretations of the goddesses from the Greek myths and plays, the epic poems (Homer, Ovid, etc.), sculptures from ancient days to modern paintings and then even in film and television. Much will perhaps already be familiar to you from your general knowledge but Haynes always finds ways to provide an entertaining and often unexpected slant to things.
Trivia and Links
Four of the major Greek Goddesses are the topics in the BBC4 podcast series Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics. You can listen to Artemis, Aphrodite, Athene and Demeter.
May 28, 2024
This is rather disappointing. I expected a book with a strong thesis, one that made its points examining various elements of early versions of these myths. What I found is totally separate chapters about each goddess that read like a school report. The author used references to early versions of these myths, including Homer, Hesiod and Ovid, but she also included recent movies, songs and other retellings in great, very great, detail.
I wouldn't mind if I felt she was making strong points, but at times I wondered what her point even was. Hera was tough and misunderstood seems to be as far as she went there, for instance. I really liked the chapters on Hestia and Demeter, and some of the others were all right, but overall this was less than stellar.
I wouldn't mind if I felt she was making strong points, but at times I wondered what her point even was. Hera was tough and misunderstood seems to be as far as she went there, for instance. I really liked the chapters on Hestia and Demeter, and some of the others were all right, but overall this was less than stellar.
June 14, 2024
I don’t even want to talk about it.
April 11, 2025
to be honest at first I was just reading it for the community challenge but after reading about the author's view on how Hera has been blamed for the things that Zeus did (like throwing hephaestus off mount Olympus) or how she became a victim to reactive abuse I slowly became interested in what other fresh takes she had and I wasn't disappointed.
March 10, 2024
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes is a cool look at history and women in Greek mythology. I loved her novel A Thousand Ships and I especially enjoyed seeing this piece of non-fiction that focuses on women. I found myself particularly hooked on the segments on The Muses, Demeter, and Artemis. I was also pleasantly surprised by how interested I was in the section on Hera which probably does most of the heavy lifting. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes is a cool look at history and women in Greek mythology. I loved her novel A Thousand Ships and I especially enjoyed seeing this piece of non-fiction that focuses on women. I found myself particularly hooked on the segments on The Muses, Demeter, and Artemis. I was also pleasantly surprised by how interested I was in the section on Hera which probably does most of the heavy lifting. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
October 6, 2023
I usually enjoy books by Natalie Haynes but this one was disappointing.It is an expose of eight Greek goddesses inluding Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hera, Hestia and The Muses and Furies
Eavh chapter gave the story of the goddess, her major achievements[good or bad] with references to texts such as Ovid, Homer and Hesiod plus various playwrights. This I found a useful reference tool and further areas to explore. However, what let the book down was a constant referral to modern day celebrities and comparing their action to TV shows and films which I considered reduced the integrity of the book
Eavh chapter gave the story of the goddess, her major achievements[good or bad] with references to texts such as Ovid, Homer and Hesiod plus various playwrights. This I found a useful reference tool and further areas to explore. However, what let the book down was a constant referral to modern day celebrities and comparing their action to TV shows and films which I considered reduced the integrity of the book
February 6, 2024
3.5 stars. Pandora's Jar is one of my favourite books but I thought Divine Might didn't have the same power that its predecessor had. Whilst I love combining academia with pop culture, I felt that the first half of the book was too focused on popular culture. I felt like I didn't learn a lot which was a shame and that's one of the things I loved so much about Pandora's Jar. However, I think this got a lot better in a second half and I enjoyed this half more. I will reread this book at some point because of my circumstances I wasn't really able to absorb the information very well
December 4, 2023
Гооооляма загуба на време, отново.
Авторката разказва по два-три мита за съответната богиня и с това се изчерпва стойността на тази книга. Нищо ново не се казва, а когато се опитва да се прави на интересна и да сравнява с поп културата, получаваме, например, пет страници преразказ на „Игрите на глада“ в главата за Артемида.
Пълен bullshit.
Авторката разказва по два-три мита за съответната богиня и с това се изчерпва стойността на тази книга. Нищо ново не се казва, а когато се опитва да се прави на интересна и да сравнява с поп културата, получаваме, например, пет страници преразказ на „Игрите на глада“ в главата за Артемида.
Пълен bullshit.
March 29, 2024
Haynes at her best. Lesser-known figures and myths alike, this was a sharp, modern analysis of the goddesses, yet a very readable (listenable?) length.
I very much enjoyed the sidelong cutting remarks Haynes put into the audiobook, not sure if they're present in the written book the same way.
I very much enjoyed the sidelong cutting remarks Haynes put into the audiobook, not sure if they're present in the written book the same way.
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