SIM Ep 765 Chops 263: Natalie Haynes and the monstering of Medusa

Back last May, when Mick interviewed classicist, comedian and author Natalie Haynes about Pandora’s Jar – her anthology of women in Greek myths – she asked who Natalie’s favourite woman from Greek myth is and the answer was swift: Medusa.  And it’s easy to see why. Medusa, best known as a monster with snakes for hair and the ability to turn living creatures to stone with just a look, was actually a young woman, horribly wronged, terribly punished and then painted as a villain.  Stone Blind is Natalie’s new novel, a sharp, warm, funny and incredibly moving take on Medusa’s story.  She and Mick also chat religion, capricious deities, goddess alter-egos, knitting, and how to research the women in Greek myths when women in the Classics tend to get pretty short shrift.  Stone Blind is out on September 15, but you can also listen to Natalie on her excellent Radio 4 series Natalie Haynes Stands Up For The Classics, available on BBC Sounds.  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/standardissuespodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices