Monday 2 November 2020

Pandora's Jar


 In Pandora's Jar, Haynes explores popular figures from Greek Mythology, examining both how they are presented in Classical texts, and in modern re-workings. It makes for a rich, informative text, which is completely immersive and hard to put down. It's fascinating to see how even writers working at similar times told myths in very different ways, and I learnt a lot of sides to these characters' stories that I had never come across before. This book has left me keen to reread Euripides' plays, but also try some new authors too. 

This is definitely a book to read with a phone or laptop to hand, because Haynes discusses a lot of different works of art (both ancient and modern) and it's good to be able to look them up while reading! 

Haynes's voice and style are strong throughout, and it feels as though she could easily be talking to you on her radio show. I laughed a lot while reading this and it is Haynes's humour, as much as the subject matter, which makes this book such a success. 

This book will be popular with everyone from Classicists, to readers whose only knowledge of these characters comes from half-remembered children's stories. Haynes writes in a way that is accessible to all, but won't bore readers with a prior knowledge of the texts discussed. 

I have been talking about this book non-stop for the past few weeks, and really cannot recommend it enough.


I was sent a copy of Pandroa's Jar for review, via NetGalley

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