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  • Pandora's Jar

  • Women in the Greek Myths
  • By: Natalie Haynes
  • Narrated by: Natalie Haynes
  • Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (538 ratings)

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Pandora's Jar

By: Natalie Haynes
Narrated by: Natalie Haynes
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Summary

This audio edition is expertly and enthusiastically read by the author, Natalie Haynes.

The Greek myths are among the world's most important cultural building blocks and they have been retold many times, but rarely do they focus on the remarkable women at the heart of these ancient stories.

Stories of gods and monsters are the mainstay of epic poetry and Greek tragedy, from Homer to Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, from the Trojan War to Jason and the Argonauts. And still, today, a wealth of novels, plays and films draw their inspiration from stories first told almost three thousand years ago. But modern tellers of Greek myth have usually been men, and have routinely shown little interest in telling women’s stories. And when they do, those women are often painted as monstrous, vengeful or just plain evil. But Pandora – the first woman, who according to legend unloosed chaos upon the world – was not a villain, and even Medea and Phaedra have more nuanced stories than generations of retellings might indicate.

Now, in Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths, Natalie Haynes – broadcaster, writer and passionate classicist – redresses this imbalance. Taking Pandora and her jar (the box came later) as the starting point, she puts the women of the Greek myths on equal footing with the menfolk. After millennia of stories telling of gods and men, be they Zeus or Agamemnon, Paris or Odysseus, Oedipus or Jason, the voices that sing from these pages are those of Hera, Athena and Artemis, and of Clytemnestra, Jocasta, Eurydice and Penelope.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Natalie Haynes (P)2020 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd
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Critic reviews

"Funny, sharp explications of what these sometimes not-very-nice women were up to, and how they sometimes made idiots of...but read on!" (Margaret Atwood)

"Natalie Haynes is the nation's muse." (Adam Rutherford)

What listeners say about Pandora's Jar

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

This was fascinating from start to finish!

Excellent narration, thank you Natalie! Thoroughly enjoyed this as an audio book, and it revealed a a different aspect of each of the women featured!

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Book of the year

Having read the Greek myths time and time again when growing up, this book and narration by the incredible Natalie Haynes busts the myths! Deep, thoughtful, funny-dry, with the authors ability to capture and keep your attention, this book/audio book is a literary delight. A must read or listen for every woman especially.

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Fascinating

I love the Greek myths and hugely enjoyed this funny, knowledgeable insight. Definitely recommend it!

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Incredibe

A wonderful and incredibly insightful look back at some of my favourite myths. Natalie Haynes is a joy to listen to and her delivery is direct, compassionate and funny. I was captivated the entire time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Witty with new perspectives on myths that we share

I simply loved listening to this book with its new perspectives on the (our) ancient mythological heroes and heroines. The enthusiasm of the author who is also the narrator is palpable but also a challenge. You need to be focused to listen to this book but it is never boring and really worth the effort. I will listen and listen again to it and so look forward to be able to see some of the artwork that is mentioned and referred to. If travelling will be possible again. The author spent her lockdown well!

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Fantastic fantastic fantastic

I loved every second of this book... A refreshingly wholistic look into the lives of some of the most interesting the women from Greek Myth... such brilliant insight and a perspective that I had been craving but hadn’t been able to find until now!!... Keep them coming Natalie

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Great Book

Really interesting and the author narrating is brilliant, if you enjoy anything about ancient Greece or Rome and the women who rarely get any recognition in their stories then this is for you.

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Fantastic and beautiful!

An amazing mix of myth and knowledge, filling in the important blanks from Greek mythology.

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Essential listening or reading

These stories are among the archetypes of western culture. Natalie Haynes’ puts women back in their original place at the stories’ centre - with a laser sharp analysis that is always as heart felt as it is entertaining. Don’t miss this collection - read by Natalie Haynes herself. As she might put it herself - listening to Pandora’s Jar, you’ll want to be in her gang.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed every minute of this

Just what the title says :) Not one sentence was disengaging, dull, uninformative, or jarring. Well-nigh a perfect book. And very funny!

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