Natalie Haynes

Natalie Haynes is a British writer, broadcaster, and classicist who has done more than almost anyone to bring the ancient Greek and Roman worlds to a contemporary audience — with warmth, wit, and a particular focus on the women whose stories have too often been sidelined or silenced. Born in Birmingham in 1974, Haynes studied Classics at Christ's College, Cambridge. She initially pursued a career in stand-up comedy, becoming the first woman to be nominated for the Perrier Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. She later transitioned to writing and broadcasting about the classical world, a move that proved enormously fruitful. The Ancient Guide to Modern Life (2010) was her first major non-fiction work, making a compelling case for the relevance of the ancient world to contemporary life. The Amber Fury (2014) and The Children of Jocasta (2017) were novels that reimagined classical stories. But it was A Thousand Ships (2019) that became her breakthrough — a retelling of the Trojan War from the perspectives of its women, from queens and goddesses to slaves and refugees. The novel was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. Stone Blind (2022) retold the story of Medusa, transforming the mythological monster into a complex, sympathetic character whose story reveals uncomfortable truths about power, violence, and who gets to tell whose story. Divine Might (2023) explored ten goddesses and the mortals who dared to challenge them. Haynes is also the creator and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics, a hugely popular series. The audiobook editions of Haynes's books are a particular pleasure, often narrated with the energy and wit that characterise her broadcasting. Her books and audiobooks are essential for anyone who loves the classical world — or who wants to discover why it still matters.