natalie haynes stone blind medusa's story

In Stone Blind, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes turns our understanding of this legendary myth on its head, bringing empathy and nuance to one of the earliest stories in which a woman–injured by a powerful man–is blamed, punished, and monstered for the assault. Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude. Writhing snakes replace her hair and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone.

Punished for Poseidon’s actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Furious by the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge–on the young woman. When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene’s temple, the goddess is enraged. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Synopsis: They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster. She wears her extensive learning lightly and deftly drags the Classics into the modern world' - Kate Atkinson 'Natalie Haynes is both a witty and an erudite guide. 'Haynes combines a wide-ranging knowledge of the original myths with a gift for compelling narrative' - The Times her thoughtful portraits will linger with you long after the book is finished' - Madeline Miller 'With her trademark passion, wit, and fierce feminism. And how she was never really a monster at all. This is the story of how a young woman became a monster. That is, until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon. Medusa can no longer look upon anyone she loves without destroying them, and so condemns herself to a life lived in shadow and solitude to limit her murderous rage.

Appalled by her own reflection: snakes have replaced her hair and she realises that her gaze can now turn any living creature to stone. When the sea god, Poseidon, commits an unforgivable act in her sacred temple the goddess, Athene, takes her revenge on an innocent - and Medusa's life is changed forever. Growing up with her sisters, she quickly realizes that she is the only one who gets older, experiences change, feels weakness. Medusa is the only mortal in a family of gods. Natalie Haynes – the Women's Prize-shortlisted author of A Thousand Ships – brings the infamous Medusa to life as you have never seen her before.

Natalie haynes stone blind medusa's story