Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth

With this new volume, Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth, a follow-up to Pandora’s Jar, the iconic voice of comedian classicist Natalie Haynes returns to investigate the bad behavior of ancient gods. In this female-centric exploration of Olympus, Haynes re-examines the stories of the Greek goddesses, their passions and foibles, which are every bit as awe-inspiring and terrifying as their male counterparts.

Haynes is known as a writer who has “reshaped our view of Greek myth.” Haynes raises many questions about the ways we have always viewed the goddesses, such as Hera’s implacable jealousy in the face of all Zeus’ various infidelities (well, umm, yeah?). Or the cold inhumanity of Artemis, defending her honor. Or the invisible (yet very felt!) Hestia. She offers us a view of these powerful and divine women that we haven’t considered before. And at the book’s core, Haynes argues that the depictions of the gods are only ever a mirror to our own humanity.

This intensely pleasurable read did not disappoint on any level. Especially great for readers who enjoyed the Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics series on the BBC.