Publication Date: February 7, 2023
They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster.
The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.
When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene’s temple, the goddess is enraged. Furious by the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge—on the young woman. Punished for Poseidon’s actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Writhing snakes replace her hair and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude.
Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .
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. Delving into the origins of this mythic tale, Haynes revitalizes and reconstructs Medusa’s story with her passion and fierce wit, offering a timely retelling of this classic myth that speaks to us today.
Greek mythology is full of tales of desire and deceit, but author Natalie Haynes breathes new life into the story of Medusa in Stone Blind.
With a helpful cast of characters guide for readers at the beginning, the author starts at the beginning to show how a set of seemingly unrelated incidents led to Medusa’s tragedy. From Zeus and his many dalliances to Poseidon’s fascination with the mortal Gorgon.
The author weaves a story rich with details that is not only easy to follow but it focuses heavily on character development. Her approach breathes new life into a classic tale by shifting perspectives.
Medusa’s fate, sealed by unwittingly being caught up in a feud between the gods, leaves her as a monster. However, the author focuses on Medusa’s vulnerability as a mortal instead of a full-fledged Gorgon. To be punished for something done to her is the epitome of injustice.
Stone Blind delivers an engaging yet thought-provoking dive into one of the most famous classic tales of Greek mythology.
Natalie Haynes is the author of seven books, including A Thousand Ships, which was a national bestseller and was shortlisted for the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction. She has written and recorded eight series of Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics for the BBC. Haynes has written for the Times, the Independent, the Guardian, and the Observer. She lives in London.
