“Haynes is a master of her trade... She succeeds in breathing warm life into some of our oldest stories”
- DAILY TELEGRAPH

STONE BLIND
Medusa’s Story
By Natalie Haynes
15th September 2022/ Mantle/ Hardback/ £18.99

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 . .

So to mortal men, we are monsters.
Because of our teeth, our flight, our strength.
They fear us, so they call us monsters.

Medusa is the only mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her sisters, she quickly realizes that she is the only one who gets older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.

When desire pushes a God to commit the unforgivable, Medusa’s mortal life is changed forever. Her punishment is to be turned into a Gorgon: sharp teeth, snakes for hair, and a gaze that will turn any living creature to stone. Appalled by her own reflection, Medusa can no longer look upon anything she loves without destroying it. She condemns herself to a life of solitude in the shadows to limit her murderous range.

That is, until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .

This is the story of how a young woman became a monster. And how she was never really a monster at all.

ABOUT Natalie Haynes

NATALIE HAYNES is a writer and broadcaster. She is the author of novels THE AMBER FURY, shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize; THE CHILDREN OF JOCASTA, a feminist retelling of the Oedipus and Antigone stories and A THOUSAND SHIPS, a retelling of the Trojan War from an all-female perspective; and non-fiction books THE ANCIENT GUIDE TO MODERN LIFE and, most recently, PANDORA’S JAR about the women in Greek myths. She has written and presented seven series of the BBC Radio 4 show, NATALIES HAYNES STANDS UP FOR THE CLASSICS. In 2015, she was awarded the Classical Association Prize for her work in bringing Classics to a wider audience. STONE BLIND is her fourth novel.

www.nataliehaynes.com

Natalie Haynes is available for events and interview.

Praise for Haynes’ last novel A THOUSAND SHIPS

“Absorbing and fiercely feminist” – GUARDIAN

“Elegant and intelligent… Haynes combines a wide ranging knowledge of the original myths with a gift for compelling narrative.” – SUNDAY TIMES

“Clever and entertaining” – THE TIMES

“If you are new to myths, then this is a learned, well-fashioned introduction, with many shining moment of subtle power.” – THE SPECTATOR

“Haynes expertly crafts an emotional and vivid historical tale with high stakes and female empowerment at its core.” – WOMAN’S OWN

“This quietly compulsive and revisionist novel extracts these women from the shadows. “Their story will be told”, declares Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, and Natalie Haynes is the right author to do it.” – DAILY MAIL

“Natalie Haynes is swiftly becoming this generation’s Mary Renault; her retelling of the Trojan war from an all-female perspective, A Thousand Ships, is her best yet” – THE OBSERVER

"With her trademark passion, wit, and fierce feminism, Haynes gives much-needed voice to the silenced women of the Trojan War. Her thoughtful portraits will linger with you long after the book is finished." – MADELINE MILLER, AUTHOR OF CIRCE

“The forgotten women are vividly brought to life in this moving, intelligent and witty book. Natalie Haynes’ knowledge of Greek mythology shines through her skilful story telling. Epic is the word” – MARTHA KEARNEY

“Here they all are — the women of antiquity of whom we know much but have heard so little. Not any more… A Thousand Ships gives voice to women and what voices, what women! Haynes takes the baton from Renault and runs with it. Her modern take on antiquity is exquisitely informed without ever being research-heavy. She brings these women and their triumphs and tragedies to life. Glorious!” – DAMIAN BARR

‘Turns the Trojan War into a gripping, feminist masterpiece” - DEBORAH FRANCES-WHITE, THE GUILTY FEMINIST PODCAST