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Natalie Haynes Stands Up For the Classics: Further Comical Tales From Ancient Greece and Rome, Series 9-11
Three more series of Natalie Haynes’ BBC Radio 4 show combining comedy with classicism – plus Christmas special ‘Saturnalia’
‘Rock star mythologist’ and reformed comedian Natalie Haynes is obsessed with the ancient world. Here, she explores key tales from the classical era that still have resonance today. Whether biographical, mythological or epic, they are always hilarious and revelatory – and they tell us more about contemporary humanity than seems possible of stories from several thousand years ago.
Series 9 sees her standing up for Martial, whose satirical epigrams were both perfectly crafted and absolutely filthy; recounting the powerful story of Demeter's fight to get justice for her daughter Persephone; profiling the charismatic and bloodthirsty Athene, goddess of wisdom, war and...handicrafts; and looking at Livia, the first Empress of Rome and faithful wife to Augustus, who has gone down in history as a serial killer.
In Series 10, she discusses Cleopatra, (brilliant and charismatic, but probably not an Elizabeth Taylor lookalike); Hesiod (cataloguer of the gods and author of a flatpack wagon manual); and Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty, who is mostly depicted naked and/or wet). Examining Artemis, she discovers that the celebrated huntress was not averse to the odd human sacrifice; and investigating Aesop, she finds that everything we think we know about this famous fable writer is contradicted somewhere. And it’s a similar story with Tacitus, whose fascinating works are long on persuasive prose, but short on evidence…
Two tales of Alexandria open Series 11, as Natalie goes on to tell the stories of the Nine Earthly Muses; Hera, queen of the Olympian gods; the Roman love poet Catullus; and the overlooked ‘domestic goddess’ Hestia. And in a tour de force solo performance, Natalie takes on Virgil's great poem ‘The Aeneid’ in 28 minutes... and wins.
Joining Natalie for some witty conversation and well-informed analysis are guest experts including Robin Ince, Adam Rutherford, Dan Snow and Edith Hall. Also included is a special festive show, ‘Saturnalia’, in which Natalie celebrates the midwinter festival of Ancient Rome, described by Catullus as ‘the best of days’, in the company of André Vincent and Professor Llewelyn Morgan. Expect anarchy, jokes, cross-dressing, sweets, drinking games and the wearing of traditional pointy hats...
‘Rock star mythologist’ and reformed comedian Natalie Haynes is obsessed with the ancient world. Here, she explores key tales from the classical era that still have resonance today. Whether biographical, mythological or epic, they are always hilarious and revelatory – and they tell us more about contemporary humanity than seems possible of stories from several thousand years ago.
Series 9 sees her standing up for Martial, whose satirical epigrams were both perfectly crafted and absolutely filthy; recounting the powerful story of Demeter's fight to get justice for her daughter Persephone; profiling the charismatic and bloodthirsty Athene, goddess of wisdom, war and...handicrafts; and looking at Livia, the first Empress of Rome and faithful wife to Augustus, who has gone down in history as a serial killer.
In Series 10, she discusses Cleopatra, (brilliant and charismatic, but probably not an Elizabeth Taylor lookalike); Hesiod (cataloguer of the gods and author of a flatpack wagon manual); and Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty, who is mostly depicted naked and/or wet). Examining Artemis, she discovers that the celebrated huntress was not averse to the odd human sacrifice; and investigating Aesop, she finds that everything we think we know about this famous fable writer is contradicted somewhere. And it’s a similar story with Tacitus, whose fascinating works are long on persuasive prose, but short on evidence…
Two tales of Alexandria open Series 11, as Natalie goes on to tell the stories of the Nine Earthly Muses; Hera, queen of the Olympian gods; the Roman love poet Catullus; and the overlooked ‘domestic goddess’ Hestia. And in a tour de force solo performance, Natalie takes on Virgil's great poem ‘The Aeneid’ in 28 minutes... and wins.
Joining Natalie for some witty conversation and well-informed analysis are guest experts including Robin Ince, Adam Rutherford, Dan Snow and Edith Hall. Also included is a special festive show, ‘Saturnalia’, in which Natalie celebrates the midwinter festival of Ancient Rome, described by Catullus as ‘the best of days’, in the company of André Vincent and Professor Llewelyn Morgan. Expect anarchy, jokes, cross-dressing, sweets, drinking games and the wearing of traditional pointy hats...
9 pages, Audiobook
Published September 25, 2025
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Haynes
27 books7,114 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 4, 2025
Series is as strong as ever.
January 29, 2026
Thoughts on this Book
Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics (Series 9–11) is made of the same awesome stuff that the previous ones were. In this, we get a glimpse of the city of Alexandria and the Great Library, and it’s gorgeous. I mean, just the idea of having a library that keeps records of every book so extensive that the records take up their own space. And it being so close to the source of where papyrus grows that if you want to lessen its power, you have to control papyrus availability...
The bit about the librarians was great—how when you visited, you had to submit your books, and you might not get them back if the library didn't already have the original. It reminded me of Rachel Caine's Great Library series. They would also ask other countries and nations to turn over their works, saying, "We are going to make copies and return the books to you," but they actually sent back the copies and kept the originals. It’s a very "villainous library" thing, and I love EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
She also goes into other historical figures with the same level of awesomeness as her other books. Of course, Natalie being Natalie, she cannot leave things be—she covers Virgil’s Aeneid in like 20 to 30 minutes and hits everything in it.
Even if you know her other books or books by other authors, there is always new and exciting stuff here. You learn new things about ancient history and have fun while doing it. I think she also does the festival of Saturnalia in this one and the big role that it played. She also covers Hera, why she was the way she was, and how she dealt with her husband's infidelity.
Thoughts on this Series
I read the series in a really fun way--while doing my daily workout. It was difficult, let me tell you, because Ms. Haynes had me in stitches quite often. But it was soooo worth it. Her feminist take on the ancient myths is like the breath of fresh that my workout routine needed! Add to that, the chapters are like half hour long and whoosh away without boring you.
Also reviewed at WP
Review of Books 5-8 here
Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics (Series 9–11) is made of the same awesome stuff that the previous ones were. In this, we get a glimpse of the city of Alexandria and the Great Library, and it’s gorgeous. I mean, just the idea of having a library that keeps records of every book so extensive that the records take up their own space. And it being so close to the source of where papyrus grows that if you want to lessen its power, you have to control papyrus availability...
The bit about the librarians was great—how when you visited, you had to submit your books, and you might not get them back if the library didn't already have the original. It reminded me of Rachel Caine's Great Library series. They would also ask other countries and nations to turn over their works, saying, "We are going to make copies and return the books to you," but they actually sent back the copies and kept the originals. It’s a very "villainous library" thing, and I love EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
She also goes into other historical figures with the same level of awesomeness as her other books. Of course, Natalie being Natalie, she cannot leave things be—she covers Virgil’s Aeneid in like 20 to 30 minutes and hits everything in it.
Even if you know her other books or books by other authors, there is always new and exciting stuff here. You learn new things about ancient history and have fun while doing it. I think she also does the festival of Saturnalia in this one and the big role that it played. She also covers Hera, why she was the way she was, and how she dealt with her husband's infidelity.
Thoughts on this Series
I read the series in a really fun way--while doing my daily workout. It was difficult, let me tell you, because Ms. Haynes had me in stitches quite often. But it was soooo worth it. Her feminist take on the ancient myths is like the breath of fresh that my workout routine needed! Add to that, the chapters are like half hour long and whoosh away without boring you.
Also reviewed at WP
Review of Books 5-8 here
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews