I’m Natalie Haynes, bestselling author of A Thousand Ships, Pandora’s Jar and Stone Blind. AMA!

[u/NatalieHaynesAuthor]

I’m Natalie Haynes, writer, classicist and host of the BBC radio show Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics. I used to be a stand-up comedian. My novels include A Thousand Ships, telling the story of the Trojan War from the perspectives of the women involved, The Children of Jocasta, a retelling of the Oedipus myth, and my latest book, Stone Blind, which reimagines the myth of Medusa. My non-fiction books include Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths. Ask me anything!

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[u/ohrowanmine]

Hi Natalie! Thank you so much for doing this AMA. I loved Pandora's Jar and A Thousand Ships and I'm looking forward to starting Stone Blind. I know it's probably a difficult choice, but which woman's story from Greek Myth resonates with you the most? Thanks!

[u/XBreaksYFocusGroup]

Hi Natalie. Thank you so much for the AMA.

I sincerely loved A Thousand Ships and look forward to reading more of your work. Do you have any inclination to explore other cultural mythos or genre outside of historical fiction? Per your afterward, what draws so strongly you to Cassandra's character? Is there any film, movie, or multi-media collaboration or adaptation that would be a dream for you (assuming there is not already something in the works which you are not allowed to share just yet).

Thank you for all the lovely stories and I hope for all the continued success in your future endeavors.

[u/remibause]

Love all your work, also the radio and all episodes becoming available online during the lockdown really was a blam that helped me enormously.

I have two questions.

One, your humor is a very recognizable part of your work. Even with some very thorny subjects in the classics, you manage to make it fun and interest people. But then there is The Children of Jocasta, which is not devoid of humor and wit, but it hit me very differently. Maybe because I was unprepared for it. So I read it again and it still really got to me, it is so good. Was that an aware choice, to make The Children of Jocasta hit so differently? You’ve spoken before about how going through some of these characters from the classics really challenged you mentally, was that also with this story? Cause it really did a number of me.

Second, I dropped Latin and continued Greek in highschool. Because the Greeks have the better stories and I really enjoy a homeric cadence. Majority however drops Greek and only continues with Latin over here. Do you want to weigh in on this. On the radio you seem to pick balanced amongst the classics, but in book form you veer heavily in the Greek direction. Because they have the better stories, right?

[u/XBreaksYFocusGroup]

What are some unsolved or mysterious parts of Greek history or mythology you most want answers to?

[u/Wizardof1000Kings]

Does competition affect what you write? For instance there are several other authors writing novelizations of Greek myth such as Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint, etc.

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[u/Vandalorious]

Hi Natalie. Thanks so much for doing this. I just finished A Thousand Ships and loved it. Can you comment on the current resurgence of interest in the Greek myths? When I was, ahem, a kid, all we had was Bullfinch and Edith Hamilton. And somewhat related novels by Mary Renault. But now it feels kind of like the subject du jour, which is great because there's a lot to choose from.

[u/Dependent_Room_2922]

Hi Natalie, I’d enjoyed your previous books and got Stone Blind as soon as it became available in the US. I really loved your take on Medusa’s story and the bigger questions of what makes someone “monstrous” to society and who in society decides that. Your portrayals of Perseus of Athena surprised and impressed me. Without spoiling for those who haven’t read yet, what shaped your writing of those two characters?

[u/MKruber]

Hi Natalie! Which character from Greek myth would make the best TV detective and which TV detective would be the best god?

[u/Fit-Pomegranate-4726]

My second question I would like to propose, that overall the life of Greek women seems pretty restricted, could you tell us about someone that was positively received/remembered?

[u/hollyjolly23]

Hi Natalie! I’m a huge fan of your work. Your writing is always so clever and poignant. Thank you for all you have shared! What other women of mythology would you like to write about? I know I would personally love to see more about Persephone and her role in the Underworld (with no magical love or what not).

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[u/Dramatic_Cat23]

Hello from Italy! They recently started translating your books in Italian and I've been collecting them all ❤️

I'm afraid I don't have a serious question, so out of curiousity: do you have a favourite god or goddess?

Thank you for your wonderful books. I hope they will continue to translate them in many languages so that more people can read them

[u/Barry-J-Fisk]

Hi Natalie. Just finished Stone Blind and really enjoyed it. I was just wondering if there's any reason behind your choice to use the name Athene as opposed to Athena? Is there any difference or significance between the two?

[u/lunanovaa]

hi natalie, thank you so much for this - i’m a long time fan and you really inspired me to explore classics as a hobby!

i’ve always been curious, what was your Medea dissertation about? is it published?

also who is the most underrated character from myth in your view?

[u/MrDCConn]

Hi Natalie! I was wondering how you decide which of the numerous versions of myths to focus on for your adaptations. I haven’t started Stone Blind yet (I’m sorry, I really want to read it and will soon!) but I’ve heard that Medusa’s assault by Poseidon is a plot point, which as I understand it wasn’t really a thing in the mythological record until Ovid’s Metamorphoses. What process do you use to decide which variants to write?

[u/Trick-Two497]

Hi Natalie, thank you for doing this. I'd love to know how you created such a poignant version of Cassandra.

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[u/ClassyClassicist88]

Salve Natalie, I’m a massive fan of your books and podcasts and very eagerly awaiting the release of Pandora’s Jar Strikes Back! I’m a Latin/Greek teacher in a high school outside of Boston and I’m teaching an Ovid elective this semester. Currently, we’re having some epistolary fun with The Heroides and I just wondered which is your favorite letter? We’ve been reading Ariadne’s this week. Thanks so much for your time and have an excellent weekend! PS Please consider coming stateside to promote your books and/or give lectures, I would LOVE to bring all my students to see you! You are awesome!

[u/tequilaqueenclassics]

Can you divulge the name of your new book yet? 😉

[u/OutlandishnessHour19]

Hey Natalie, my wife and I are huge fans and love your podcast so much. Thank you for being so amazing and generally inspiring.

Question:

Will you be appearing on Time Team again? - if not, any plans for your own TV show, I'm thinking something like Alice Roberts digging for Britain but even better

Thanks and hope you have a super weekend

[u/BeautifulNature2383]

Hi Natalie! No question. I just want to tell you that you're amazing. Your books bring me so much joy. Stone Blind left feeling so many things. That chapter with the snakes, oh my heart. Thank you so much for writing them!!!

[u/MKruber]

Can I have your owl?

[u/Fit-Pomegranate-4726]

How easy is it to find all those pieces of Greek/Roman pottery you use in ‘Pandora’s Jar’? It must take so much time to research. Are you looking forward to Emily Wilson’s translation of The Iliad? Thanks for all the wonderful podcasts and books, I recommend them all the time.

[u/Fit-Pomegranate-4726]

Hi Natalie, hope your day is going well. I have a question, well several actually but firstly, who would you save if it was in your power….Iphigenia or Dido?