I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

This was another great book from Haynes - this time an exploration of the key women in Greek myths and their contrasting depictions across literature. There were some stories that I knew really well (Helen and Medusa) and others that I wasn’t so familiar with (I’m looking at you Pandora and Jocasta).

Whilst I didn’t enjoy this one as much at Haynes’ more recent foray into Greek mythology, it was still a great read. I learned a fair bit about the truth to most of the stories of the key women from Greek mythology (as per the usual, the latest stories have been warped and spun so that the men are seen more favourably - so unfair!). There were also elements where stories were spun in such a way that the violence some of these women experienced was watered down or in times erased - really unfair. But Haynes is great at educating you on these earlier versions of the stories and brings her whit and passion along. I loved the Buffy references - women definitely are stronger together!

I love Natalie Hayne’s material on the Greek myths. In Pandora’s Jar, Hayne’s gives the most famous ladies from Greek myths a voice of their own, as they feel they have been overshadowed, misrepresented or unjustly condemned. We hear from Medusa, Jocasta and Helen of Troy, to name but a few and Hayne’s narration is enjoyable, sharp and witty.
Highly recommended.

This was so much funnier than I thought classics could be! I loved finding out so much more about the characters I’d Greek mythology I thought I knew! I will be pushing this into everyone’s hands.

I've had a life-long fascination with the Greek myths which probably stemmed from the (at the time terrifying) 'Clash of the Titans' film that made up a chunk of my 80s childhood - very much like Haynes herself, it turns out!

Nowadays, my job as an English teacher sees me teaching Carol Ann Duffy's 'The World's Wife' so I've become a lot more au fait with the details of the women in the ancient texts - especially Medusa, Penelope and Eurydice - which is what brought me to Haynes' excellent book.

This book takes a closer look at what we know about the women of the myths - some very familiar (Helen, Pandora, Medusa) but others possibly much less so (the Amazons, Clytemnestra, Phaedra). Often the stories about them are complex and varied - and often contradictory in different versions of the myths passed down through the ages. Haynes reminds us that there is no definitive 'truth' - and in doing so, opens up some unusual and varied takes on the stories; her background as a Classicist allows her to move seamlessly between texts and stories with an authority and deftness which is impressive.

This is also a feminist book, so it is unsurprising that Haynes brings empathy and an often more sympathetic reading to some of the characters than they have traditionally received. For example, everyone knows about Medusa as a monster, but Haynes draws out her back-story as a plaything of capricious gods to explain why her tale is much more nuanced. Helen is commonly recognised as the beautiful but dangerous cause of the Trojan-Greek war, but she was also a child bride who was probably abducted. Phaedra is usually seen as a seductress and known for shocking lie about being raped by Hippolytus (who rejected her); an alternative version once again places the blame at the feet of the gods who caused her obsession and rejection. This isn't a book for someone who wants to just know the popular narratives as there is never a clear answer, but it is fascinating.

One of the strengths is how Haynes has made this book so accessible. She doesn't pre-suppose any knowledge so even those new to the myths or characters won't feel out of their depth at all. That's not to say that this is a simple book - it's far from that, but always explained in terms that make sense and include modern frames of reference. It helps that Haynes is also a comedian so the explanations and analogies are often humorous or unexpected - 'The Lego Movie', 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' are thrown into the mix alongside more erudite explorations of Victorian art and biblical parallels.

However, there is an undisputed academic rigour to this book - Haynes knows her Hesiod from her Homer - and it is really interesting to follow the narratives about how the characters have been interpreted and reinterpreted over time. Haynes' discussions of the language of the myths is also interesting - how and why Pandora seems to now have a box rather than the original jar (a mistranslation, it seems) to the patriarchal nature of the language which doesn't have a word for a group of women.

This is a dense book - it is absolutely packed with information and Haynes moves with breakneck speed between versions of myths, art and popular culture. There is an awful lot to read and absorb! For this reason, I actually found the audiobook really helpful as Haynes' own lively reading brought it to life for me - and especially highlighted the humour and surprising colloqualisms and analogies that made me smile.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about Greek mythology, especially the often-overlooked women. It would be particularly interesting to anyone who has read and enjoyed any of the popular myth retellings of recent years - Jennifer Saint's 'Ariadne' (sister of Phaedra), for example, or Madeline Miller's 'Circe'. It's endlessly fascinating and gives readers a whole new perspective on the old stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book in excahnge for an honest review - apologies that this review has taken so long to produce. That's more a reflection on this forgetful reader rather than the excellent book.

Nathalie Haynes shows her skill once more: she tackles greek myths with subtlety and poetry, while adding a much-needed modern feminist touch.

Forget everything you think you know about Pandora, Medea and their sisters, and join us in a dream of freedom to reclaim our own story.

Natalie Haynes can do no wrong and I will forever sing her virtues to anyone who will listen. Pandora's Jar is a feminist discussion into various women at the heart of Greek myths, women who are often overshadowed by their male counterparts. What is great about Hayne's re-tellings of mythology is they don't require vast knowledge of the original text to understand their stories, she does an excellent job at making these myths accessible to everyone. A fun, refreshing new take on mythology that is a must read for anyone interested in these stories.

You absolutely know going into this that it is going to be both fact filled and full of wit and I was not dissapointed.. Haynes is a marvel and would highly reccommend!

Having enjoyed "A Thousand Ships" hugely, I had very high expectations for "Pandora's Jar" and wow, did it deliver!

Myths have always been told and retold, changing with each narrator but somehow, the majority of retellings place the women as secondary and often troublesome characters. Natalie Haynes flips that narrative on its head. She delves into the motivation behind Pandora, Jocasta, Medusa and numerous other women whose stories we are unfamiliar with because they have been deemed unimportant. She makes them human, flawed but lovable, struggling and overlooked.

Pandora's Jar should be required reading for fans of Greek Myths.

Commissioned via writer for The Skinny:

"Novels which recentre the narratives of Greek myths to the perspective of their overlooked female characters have taken off in the past few years. Natalie Haynes’ most recent contribution to that genre may not take the same novelistic form, but it’s an invaluable work which revisits names we know so well as “bad” or “stupid” women – Pandora, Helen, Medea – and goes back to the classical texts to add that which is lacking in our modern understanding of these characters: nuance and sympathy. A vital counter-commentary to the disservice so often paid to nonconforming women by history and the media."

Part of Boos of 2020 feature: https://www.theskinny.co.uk/books/features/the-skinnys-books-of-2020

Pandora’s Jar is a marvellous exploration of ten prominent female mythological characters who have been the subject of many theatre, literature and art across the world and history, with varying versions of their portrayals. Haynes proceeds to give powerful assessments on the interpretation and reception of each women’s story, that’ll leave any mythology lovers speechless and with a great desire to give Haynes a round of applause.

The female characters considered are: Pandora, Jocasta, Helen, Medusa, The Amazons, Clytemnestra, Eurydice, Phaedra, Medea and Penelope. Each have their own chapter, making it easy to read one and refer back to it at a later date, with the help of a contents page too (on the hardback).

I found it very critically assessing and thought provoking. Almost as if no stone was left unturned in Haynes assessments of each historical pieces in relation to the women. You’ll undoubtedly learn something you never knew before, and I was taken aback by how much I didn’t actually know, particularly just how many different interpretations there have been for each story.

The book reads like a university module’s required textbook, albeit with an engaging conversational tone, which is understandable as it is non-fiction.
I’d recommend having a basic knowledge of the mythology Haynes discusses here first. I felt that was the only area where the book missed something - it develops on the understanding that the reader already has some kind of prior knowledge of each of the women, and doesn't give a basic outline for each, which considering just how many different variations of the stories there are, makes sense. But it was unavoidable to google some bits to fill in the blanks that I'd of preferred Haynes to offer.

Pandora’s Jar is clever, well-presented and a passionate defence of women who have been crucified everywhere for what men get away with. It could be described as a celebratory account for women in mythology, but that feels too simplistic. Ultimately, Haynes makes it clear that the versions of myths we hear or choose to tell are the ones universally preferred. A brilliant book.

Thank you kindly to the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This title was highly anticipated due to having read Haynes’ recent release, A Thousand Ships, which I adored. This book is non-fiction and very informative - it’s a denser read than some non-fiction books of its type but it’s a wonderful exploration of the women throughout Greek Mythology that I would recommend to all.

Popular author Natalie Haynes looks at the "literary sources" and archaeological evidence to get to the bottom of the myths behind female goddesses/ "monsters" etc.

In the first chapter she dispels the widely held belief that Pandora opened a box in fact it was a jar. Other chapters revisit Helen , Medusa etc.

This could have been dry and too scholarly but isn't. Haynes is a scholar who has done solid research but her tone is more chatty , contemporary and at times humorous.. For example

"this Helen owns a diglosson arnion- "a bilingual sheep". It's impossible to see how this Helen isn't the most famous woman in the ancient world, when one comes across a bilingual sheep so rarely"

Highly entertaining and great for lovers of Circe (by Madeline Miller) Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker etc.

Since reading the amazing "A Thousand Ships" and listening to the Natalie Haynes Stands Up for Classics podcast, my love of ancient Greek history and mythology has been rejuvenated. "Pandora's Jar" is an important reminder that women in this period of time (real or mythical) do not get the representation and voice they deserve. Enter Natalie Haynes, a classicist who is obsessed with all the women who are often misunderstood, misrepresented and mistreated throughout history. In the chapters of the book she talks about famous female characters – and not only gives them their rightful places in mythology but also puts them on an equal level with men, showing they can also be as important, inspiring, clever and heroic. I must also mention the style and language of the book – as I have listened some of it in audiobook form, I really, really loved the author’s voice here. Natalie Haynes is a comedian as well as a classicist and it shows in the book's delivery, as well as the little jokes and puns she liberally sprinkles throughout the book – vastly increasing my enjoyment of an already interesting read.

The less-discussed side of Greek myth. 4/5.

Earlier this year I enjoyed and reviewed Natalie Hayne’s A Thousand Ships (she’s had a busy year!), her excellent retelling of events relating to the Trojan War from the point of view of the female characters. However, while that was a work of fiction, Pandora’s Jar is non-fiction and a more academic consideration of the women of Greek myth.

This is an entertaining look at 10 female mythical figures as Haynes continues to her work to make the classics accessible. She was a stand-up comedian for many years and her wit shines through in her writing, helping to make what could be quite dry subject matter amusing and relatable. The volume of research she’s done is also commendable, particularly when the primary material about women in Greek myth is often scant, especially when compared to what we know about the men from ancient sources.

I was fascinated by the differences in how these female figures were depicted in ancient Greece and their more modern representations. You would hope that perhaps, with time, these women would have been given centre stage. Instead, the perception of them has become more restricted, their agency has been further diminished and voices muted. Pandora is the first and one of the most notable examples of this change in the book.

I have some minor caveats. If, like me, you’re a fan of Hayne’s excellent BBC Radio 4 show (Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics) and are up-to-date with the latest series, you may have already heard quite a bit of what’s in this book! She has always tried to get at least one female figure in each series and the last series focussed exclusively on women. Consequently, when I was reading Pandora’s Jar, sometimes I found my attention slipping because what I was reading was information I’d heard before. Also, I did find some of the 10 characters covered in the book more interesting than others. But then, we all know by now that I find it much harder to concentrate when reading non-fiction than fiction, so a lot of this could just be me!

Overall: highly recommended for those with an interest in Greek myth who are looking for an accessible, entertaining read covering characters not commonly discussed in similar books.

Classicist Natalie Haynes has penned this extraordinarily interesting non-fiction in the hope of addressing some of the prejudice and inaccuracies forced upon some of mythology's female figures. These women are often relegated to the side-lines of the story, and when they are granted an extended focus it is for their role as either the mother, the sinner, or the monster. Sometimes all three at once. But was this always the case and, if so, just why are women depicted as behaving in such a narrow spectrum?

This was such an incredible feminist insight to some of mythology's most infamous females. Ten mythological figures were each granted their own chapter in which to explore their character creation, the variations that abounded in different texts, and their modern-day relevance. It remained light and witty in tone and yet provided an abundance of information on each figure and the stories they stemmed from.

Time spent inside these pages flew just as quickly as it does when I am immersed in fiction, so compelling was Haynes' focus and narrative style. This was a flawless creation and it is my ardent wish that this volume will become just one instalment in a series of similar creations. I still have much to learn about mythology and I want only this author to illuminate the past for me.

This was a fascinating book exploring some of the often well known but misunderstood women of Greek myth. Beginning with Pandora and running through Helen, the Amazons through to Medea and Penelope, Natalie Haynes has crafted a wonderful analysis which often compares the way in which these women were dealt with in the past as opposed to how we often view them in a modern setting, the results of which were truly surprising. I particularly enjoyed the discussion around Pandora and Helen, both victimised throughout literature but yet both victims of capricious and petulant gods. Similarly, the way in Medusa has been depicted glosses over the fact that her snake hair and petrifying gaze were a punishment for being raped - again, a punishment for the victim, not the perpetrator. Some of the later chapters did fall a little too far into simply retelling the stories without as much of the insightful study for me, but overall I would definitely recommend this book who has an interest in Greek mythology for an interesting perspective on things.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Loved this book. Referring both to original sources and and modern adaptations, Natalie Haynes devotes separate chapters to various well-known women from ancient Greek myth and literature. She writes as though she was on stage in front of you, full of both humour and knowledge. I have a Classics background so maybe at an advantage but I feel that anyone with more than a passing interest in Greek myth will know most of these women such as Medea, Medusa and the eponymous Pandora. I devoured this book in a couple of sittings via a Netgalley preview - thanks! My only wish would be that the print edition included all those wonderful works of art mentioned - unfortunately not!

I really enjoyed this!! I have read a few retellings and mythology books so when I received this ARC I was really excited. I was drawn to the fact that it focused more on female characters, and this book lived up to my expectations.
It was accessible language which is nice for complex myths.
I enjoyed the focus on female mythology, which is the first book I've read which centres around the likes of Pandora and Jocasta.
Good book. Definitely recommend for people who enjoy Greek myths!

This was an interesting read and i really enjoyed to read a non fiction by Haynes. The writing was really accessible and i found it interesting how the stories are shown then and now and the comparisons to contemporary culture. Haynes choose the main figures from the period but this makes sense given the misinformation about them. This is a definite mix up between pure historical fiction and pop culture essays and it works so well.