Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes
Publication date: 28 September 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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Natalie Haynes examines the role of the goddesses (Athene, Aphrodite, Hera and others) who are as mighty, revered and destructive as their male counterparts. Isn't it time we looked beyond the columns of a ruined temple to the awesome power within? 
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I read Stone Blind a few months ago and loved it, so I jumped at the opportunity to read and review Natalie Haynes' new non-fiction book. I've had a good time with Greek myths retellings this year, and I love learning more about the deities and heroes that underpin those tales. Haynes is obviously passionate and knowledgeable about her subject, and her great writing and wit make it approachable without dumbing it down.
Haynes focuses on the Goddesses and I was familiar with most of their stories, but I did very much enjoy learning more about the Muses, the Furies and especially Hestia, the least flashy and demanding of Greek Goddesses who, ruling over home and hearth, is at the centre of everyday life and yet less represented than Athene or Aphrodite. I love an understated, capable Goddess who can get the job done without the dramatics 😁
I also really appreciated how Haynes kept this book engaging by referencing modern, popular culture to help ground the information she was imparting. I really enjoyed this and I'd love to pick up more of the author's non-fiction book.
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There is just something completely entrancing about Haynes writing – I would read her shopping lists at this point. This non-fiction look at the Greek goddesses meshes historical research into these mythical figures and their depictions in popular media. I absolutely loved it.

After reading Haynes' wonderful novels it was a little bit of a mind reset to immerse myself in her exploration of the 'real' characters but once this was made I was enthralled.
I loved Haynes' turn of phrase as well as her outlook and feminist lens that is applied to the ancient world.

I should probably start out by pointing out that I adore Natalie Haynes' books. I love that they are all female-centric and whilst they are sympathetic to the females - whether they be goddesses or mortals - they don't gloss over the facts when the women display less than attractive characteristics. If you've read Haynes' books before and enjoyed them, then this is definitely another one to add to your bookshelf.

In the book, Haynes takes each of the goddesses in turn and examines their stories, looking at their motivations, limitations and expectations in the context of both society at the time and the Pantheon. I found the chapter on Persephone particularly interesting as it covered sources I hadn't previously been aware of. Haynes' style of writing is light and engaging and I think my favourite part of it are the little asides - almost a nod and a wink to the reader. This is a real strength of hers as it draws the reader into the story she is weaving around them. This comes to the fore particularly in the audiobooks, which Haynes generally narrates herself, and you can hear her smiling as she reads them.

However, that's not to detract from either the seriousness of the subject matter or Haynes' expertise in the field. Whilst she is entertaining (if you haven't listened to her 'Natalie Haynes Stands Up For The Classics' you really need to!), she never treats her source material in a cavalier manner and her love for the subject shines through on every page. Her description of the statue of Persephone being abducted by Hades was so beautiful that I was able to conjure up the image despite having never seen the statue and her account was incredibly moving.

I studied Classics for A-level and have recently revisited a lot of what I learnt as my eldest son has just finished his own A-level in the subject and we spent a lot of time discussing the various interpretations of the stories, legends and myths. Haynes' books always challenge me to think in a different way, to look at a character from a different perspective and inspire me to continue learning about the 'people' behind the stories. I love that she gives a voice to the women who are so often reduced or ignored completely and she has reignited my love of this era. I don't read a huge amount of non-fiction, but Haynes is one of the few non-fiction authors I regularly seek out.

Natalie Haynes may quite possibly be the most engaging non fiction author there is. The conversational tone injected with her fantastic sense of humour made this an incredibly enjoyable read and one I learned a lot from. It’s easy for non fiction to be dry and throw a lot of indigestible facts onto the pages throughout but that’s definitely not what happened here and that means it was so much easier to absorb the information Haynes is sharing and to also enjoy it. There’s a great mix of mythological figures as well, some I knew more about than others, but it was fascinating to see them all from different angles, be it art or pop culture or classical texts. I couldn’t recommend this book enough, whether you’ve discovered a love of Greek mythology yet or not!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Divine Might takes a closer look at some of the most well-known Ancient Greek goddesses - think the Muses, Aphrodite, Athena - in both their ancient forms and modern receptions.

Each chapter focuses on a particular figure (or group of figures) and guides the reader through the evidence, steered by Haynes’ own opinion and ideas - as well as plenty of her chatty humour. There’s great summaries of key mythological stories and useful breakdowns of some of the less accessible poems which makes the work suitable for a wide audience - no matter the level of existing Greek myth knowledge!

A good part of the discussion focuses on modern representations of the goddesses too, which is a nice change to the usual non-fiction mythology books: there are lots of recognisable examples drawn from 20th/21st century media (from Lady Gaga to The Hunger Games). Some are more successful than others, and a few seem a little under-developed - but all in all still an engaging idea, which signposts readers to plenty of things they can go off and investigate further themselves!

When it comes to Mythology, if you're not reading Natalie Haynes, you are totally missing out! In her latest book, she continues to blowy mind with phenomenal knowledge and an amazing written craft.

"Divine Might" by Natalie Haynes is a compelling exploration of the powerful and complex Greek goddesses who often take a backseat to their male counterparts in mythology. Haynes delves deep into the stories of goddesses like Athene, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hera, Demeter, and more, highlighting their strengths, flaws, and the significant roles they played in shaping the Greek mythological world. The author's engaging narrative brings these goddesses to life, shedding light on their immense influence, and challenges the traditional narratives that have often marginalized them. "Divine Might" is a thought-provoking and informative read that invites readers to revaluate the importance and impact of these formidable female deities. Haynes' storytelling is both enlightening and empowering, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in Greek mythology and the stories of powerful women in history.

⭐️-5

I read Pandora’s Jar and Children of Jocasta earlier this year and with Divine Might I think that Natalie Haynes has firmly cemented herself as one of my favourite authors.

This book had me from the introduction. Haynes combines her incredible knowledge of mythology with fascinating insights into modern day culture and her ever-present wit and humour to create something that is so digestible but thoughtful and informative.

Having studied a tiny bit of classics, there were some things in here that I already knew but so much that was new to me and seeing Haynes’ interpretations of the myths was so fresh and enjoyable. I think that Demeter has now become my favourite of the goddesses because of this book.

If I had any criticism it would probably be that I wished we’d spent a bit more time looking at the actual mythology and depictions of the goddesses themselves and a little less time looking at modern media that has been influenced by them but there was still a healthy dose of both things and I am a history nerd so I don’t imagine everyone will have that critique.

If you have any interest in mythology or feminism or media I highly recommend picking this one up.

❗️Content warnings: as to be expected when dealing with Greek/Roman mythology there is a lot of discussion of s3xual assault, if that is a trigger for you please do be cautious of this one. Also mentions of domestic abuse, violence (human sacrifice), animal cruelty.

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I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is yet another example of Natalie Haynes' incredible reinterpretation of Greek mythology. Her knowledge of original sources shines through, without creating a derivative or simplistic retelling. Naturally, there would be more scope for mythological reinvention in a fictional retelling (as several of Haynes other books have shown!) but this nonfiction work cleverly blends ancient and contemporary sources, giving the figures of the Greek goddesses relevance in the modern world.

I'd definitely recommend Divine Might to anyone interested in learning more about the role of goddesses in the Greek world. Haynes' personal opinion shines through - for any who have studied classics, she offers intriguing and humourous insights into the role of women in a patriarchal pantheon, but with balance and open-mindedness, so anyone new to these stories has space to form their own opinions.

Overall, this book is absolutely worth the read. It's definitely an intellectual one - I had to be pretty alert so I could appreciate it properly! But it's given me so much to think about, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Haynes comes up with next!

Books with similar vibes - Pandora's Jar by Natalie Haynes, Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane, and Mythos by Stephen Fry

Divine Might is a triumph, a non-fiction book that is as entertaining as it is informative. Natalie Haynes injects a wry humour that makes this book a perfect feminist counterfoil to the likes of Stephen Fry’s Mythos, with its focus on the deeds of male gods and men. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Hestia, undoubtedly one of the lesser known, yet surprisingly one of the more influential Greek goddesses. It begs the question, do Hestia and Hera get such a bad rap because they embody the less sexual elements of femininity?

I particularly enjoyed references to popular culture in this book, showing the influence our perception of the Greek myths have on popular literature to this day. Broken up into chapters focusing on a Greek goddess or a group of deities in turn, this made it very readable and despite having an interest in Greek mythology, I found myself thoroughly educated.

Natalie Haynes can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes and Divine Might is possibly my favourite of her works so far. Focusing on the goddesses (Demeter, Athene, Hera and others), Divine Might feels taking a deep dive into the myths of goddesses with your best friend. Haynes perfectly balances information with pop culture references and cheeky asides.

If you have enjoyed Haynes' previous work then definitely pick this up, it is not one to be missed and you will finish the book wishing there was more.

This was such an enjoyable read. I don’t often read non-fiction but I love Natalie Haynes’ mythological interpretations and just had to give this a try.

Haynes poses the question ‘what if the goddesses were made in a woman’s image?’

It’s a great read if you love Greek mythology (shoutout to those who grew up on Percy Jackson) and also feminists. Haynes explores a lot of the goddesses and women in Greek myth who are often personified as the villain of the story and shows how they may just be the victim

In reviewing one of Natalie Haynes’s books, I’m at risk of repeating myself: watch out for superlatives. I eagerly anticipate new releases and watch out for them on NetGalley. She has a knack of being clever and funny, interrogating the ancient sources yet providing plenty of pop culture comparisons. Divine Might sets out to tell the stories of some of the Greek goddesses, from the more well known Aphrodite and Artemis to the lesser-known Demeter and The Furies. Often I was left wanting more at the end of each chapter – each of the goddesses is interesting enough to warrant a whole book.
Telling their stories is rarely straightforward as different versions reflect the oral tradition of storytelling. As an unexpected overlap in my reading (Frances Yates’s Art of Memory) reminded me, memory is a crucial skill for a poet. I think this lack of one definitive version of the stories is one of the reasons we continue to find them interesting today. For example, in Euripides’ play Iphigenia in Aulis, Agamemnon changes his mind about sacrificing Iphigenia but Menelaus intercepts a letter and tells Agamemnon he’s weak; that’s a dynamic of the brothers’ relationship I hadn’t come across before. Another reason is the resonance they have with moral problems today. Orestes has transgressed by killing his mother but that’s at the end of a generations-long chain of events so what is an appropriate punishment?
True to form, this is a really enjoyable read and one I think is accessible to anyone. I’m persuaded that Athene is the most interesting of the goddesses featured, properly involved in the fighting at Troy rather than just directing affairs from above like some of her fellow Olympians. And I wholeheartedly agree with Haynes that it’s idiotic to set the sciences against the arts; yes, we are all nerds in the end. But happy ones after reading this.

So this is non-fiction account of female figures in Greek myth in that it uses examples both ancient and modern to flesh out our favourite goddesses/major figures. These are Natalie Haynes favourites that she'd like in a modern pantheon.

There were some minor parts that had me a little lost but on the whole I loved this book. It was smart and funny and a massive amount of research has obviously gone into it.

We all have our favourites and I'd have loved to see the Gorgons in there but at least we had The Furies and since I am reading House of Odysseus by Claire North as well the two dovetailed beautifully giving me a second look at Athena, Aphrodite, Hera etc. We also get a look at less showy goddesses eg Hestia and Demeter.

There are lots of feminist re-tellings of Greek myth - some good, some not so much - but this just gives you the concrete "facts" surrounding these women.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in Greek myth.

Thanks to Netgalley and Picador for the advance review copy.

Description:
A detailed look at some of the lesser-known myths surrounding Greek goddesses, with chapters on Hera, Athene, Aphrodite, etc, but also on the furies and muses.

Liked:
For me, this was the perfect combination of meticulous research and dry humour. Haynes cites lots of different sources, from poetry to pots, with a sophisticated and wry wit which is SUCH a breath of fresh air in this genre. Particularly loved the story about Arachne and Athene. Couldn't put this one down, and I'm not generally much of a non-fiction reader, so that’s high praise!

Disliked:
I'm not very well researched in this area, so I couldn't say whether hardcore ancient Greece fans would find as much new and interesting stuff here as I did.

Would 100% recommend: excellent stuff.

I really like Natalie Haynes work and Divine Might is another very interesting non-fiction offering. I wasn’t as impressed by this one as I was Pandora’s Jar as I felt that this book covered things I already knew and felt slightly less academic and more like the author’s thoughts on some of the female figures in Greek mythology but it was still very enjoyable.

My first love in literature was reading Greek Myths from a young age and the likes of Natalie Haynes just keeps that torch alight as an adult.

Surprisingly this was my first non-fiction book of the year and it was definitely the breath of fresh air I needed after reading fantasy and thriller for the first half of the year.

Haynes intertwines fact (or fiction) with humour effortlessly. Not in my adult like did I think I'd read the line "unexpected snake sex obviously has hormonal effects that science has yet to uncover" but somehow it made sense in the context that she put it in. These are stories that are familiar but never covered in depth with the traditional myth, finally, women get to take the centre stage.

I love this renaissance of Greek Literature in the perspective of women, Natalie Haynes, Pat Barker and Claire North are leading the charge for this and I can't thank them enough.

I will definitely be purchasing a copy when it comes out, I can't wait to see how the illustrations add to the story!

This was my first read by Natalie Haynes, but I will definitely go back now and read her fiction. This non-fiction about the goddesses has been so well researched, and is written in such an engaging way, that I finished it in a day. The book covers The Muses, Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis, Demeter, Hestia, Athena, and The Furies. All stories you might be familiar with, but you'll be surprised by Haynes' thoughts on these.

I adore anything about Greek gods and goddesses and was looking forward to getting stuck into. Haynes takes us on an exploration of goddesses, looking at their stories and seeing how they have impacted contemporary culture as well. I enjoyed some of the links Haynes makes and it definitely got me thinking about links and whether I agreed. Haynes has written this in quite a chatty, informal style which I liked and it makes the read very accessible. I did think towards the end, the chapters were a bit rushed and maybe there would have been a better order to put them in. Overall, I really enjoyed this book looking at goddesses, their stories, their role in Greek life and their links to culture.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy.