Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth (Paperback)
Staff Reviews
Divine Might is an exploration of major female figures in Greek mythology and how they have been represented over time. This was such a thoughtful and fun entry from Haynes as she highlights not only the female Olympians, but also lesser goddesses, the Muses, and the Furies. I particularly liked how Haynes described different pieces of art that these figures have been featured in across the ages, as well as how she highlighted their influence on and representation in contemporary media. Haynes continually urges us to consider how the stories of these feminine figures were overwhelmingly recorded and recounted by men, and how that lens has shaped our perspective of them.
— Rachel RossDescription
New York Times bestselling author Natalie Haynes returns to the world of ancient Greek myth in this scintillating follow-up to Pandora’s Jar.
Few writers today have reshaped our view of the ancient Greek myths more than revered bestselling author Natalie Haynes. Divine Might is a female-centered look at Olympus and the Furies, focusing on the goddesses whose prowess, passions, jealousies, and desires rival those of their male kin, including:
- Athene, who sprang fully formed from her father’s brow (giving Zeus a killer headache in the process), the goddess of war and provider of wise counsel.
- Aphrodite, born of the foam (and sperm released from a Titan’s castrated testicles), the most beautiful of all the Olympian goddesses, the epitome of love who dispenses desire and inspires longing—yet harbors a fearsome vengeful side, doling out brutal punishments to those who displease her.
- Hera, Zeus’s long-suffering wife, whose jealousy born of his repeated dalliances with mortals, nymphs, and other goddesses, leads her to wreak elaborate and often painful revenge on those she believes have wronged her. (Well, wouldn’t you?)
- Demeter, goddess of the harvest and mother of Persephone; Artemis, the hunter and goddess of wild spaces; the Muses, the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory; and Hestia, goddess of domesticity and sacrificial fire.
Infused with Haynes’s engaging charm and irrepressible wit, Divine Might is a refreshing take on the legends and stories we thought we knew.
About the Author
Natalie Haynes is the author of eight books, including A Thousand Ships, which was a national bestseller and was shortlisted for the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction. She has written and recorded nine series of Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics for the BBC. Haynes has written for the Times, the Independent, the Guardian, and the Observer. She lives in London.
Praise For…
“The lighthearted tone and humor will keep even those already familiar with Greek mythology entertained through lengthy recaps of various legends, making the stories fresh and accessible for a new generation. The result is a fun take on Greek myth.” — Publishers Weekly
