9780063139497
Play Sample

Pandora’s Jar audiobook

  • By: Natalie Haynes
  • Narrator: Natalie Haynes
  • Category: Feminist, Literary Criticism
  • Length: 9 hours 24 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Publish date: March 29, 2022
  • Language: English
  • (8598 ratings)
(8598 ratings)
33% Cheaper than Audible
Get for $0.00
  • $9.99 per book vs $14.95 at Audible
    Good for any title to download and keep
  • Listen at up to 4.5x speed
    Good for any title to download and keep
  • Fall asleep to your favorite books
    Set a sleep timer while you listen
  • Unlimited listening to our Classics.
    Listen to thousands of classics for no extra cost. Ever
Loading ...
Regular Price: 3.99 USD

Pandora’s Jar Audiobook Summary

“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, author of The Handmaid’s Tale

The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships returns with a fascinating, eye-opening take on the remarkable women at the heart of classical stories Greek mythology from Helen of Troy to Pandora and the Amazons to Medea.

The tellers of Greek myths–historically men–have routinely sidelined the female characters. When they do take a larger role, women are often portrayed as monstrous, vengeful or just plain evil–like Pandora, the woman of eternal scorn and damnation whose curiosity is tasked with causing all the world’s suffering and wickedness when she opened that forbidden box. But, as Natalie Haynes reveals, in ancient Greek myths there was no box. It was a jar . . . which is far more likely to tip over.

In Pandora’s Jar, the broadcaster, writer, stand-up comedian, and passionate classicist turns the tables, putting the women of the Greek myths on an equal footing with the men. With wit, humor, and savvy, Haynes revolutionizes our understanding of epic poems, stories, and plays, resurrecting them from a woman’s perspective and tracing the origins of their mythic female characters. She looks at women such as Jocasta, Oedipus’ mother-turned-lover-and-wife (turned Freudian sticking point), at once the cleverest person in the story and yet often unnoticed. She considers Helen of Troy, whose marriage to Paris “caused” the Trojan war–a somewhat uneven response to her decision to leave her husband for another man. She demonstrates how the vilified Medea was like an ancient Beyonce–getting her revenge on the man who hurt and betrayed her, if by extreme measures. And she turns her eye to Medusa, the original monstered woman, whose stare turned men to stone, but who wasn’t always a monster, and had her hair turned to snakes as punishment for being raped.

Pandora’s Jar brings nuance and care to the millennia-old myths and legends and asks the question: Why are we so quick to villainize these women in the first place–and so eager to accept the stories we’ve been told?

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Other Top Audiobooks

Pandora’s Jar Audiobook Narrator

Natalie Haynes is the narrator of Pandora’s Jar audiobook that was written by Natalie Haynes

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.

About the Author(s) of Pandora’s Jar

Natalie Haynes is the author of Pandora’s Jar

More From the Same

Pandora’s Jar Full Details

Narrator Natalie Haynes
Length 9 hours 24 minutes
Author Natalie Haynes
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date March 29, 2022
ISBN 9780063139497

Subjects

The publisher of the Pandora’s Jar is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Feminist, Literary Criticism

Additional info

The publisher of the Pandora’s Jar is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780063139497.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Sara

August 09, 2020

ARC received in exchange for an honest review. A wonderful feminist discussion into various women at the heart of the Greek myths. These are women who are often overshadowed by the male heroes of their own stories, yet Haynes manages to bring them to life and give them a voice that has long been forgotten. These are women who originally are described as intelligent warriors, fearless and resourceful, and ultimately let down by their husbands, lovers and the Gods. Their stories have been warped over time to diminish them, force them into the background and cast them as villains and monsters. It was incredibly refreshing to see them in a new, more positive light. Haynes's writing is also incredibly accessible and humorous at times too, making the myths and information she pulls from easy to follow and understand. I personally don't think you need to have a deep understanding of these myths going into the book, although it's obviously beneficial. I am really enjoying this resurgence of the Greek myths told from a woman's perspective (such as Haynes novel A Thousand Ships and Miller's Circe) and I'm now desperate for a Medusa or Medea retelling. As part of this review, I've included a few words and thoughts on each woman's story. If you don't want to know which Greek heroines are found within Haynes book, don't read on. Pandora - Because obviously all bad things in the world are the fault of women (see also: Eve). Jocasta - with the least amount of info, she still manages to figure out Oedipus is her son before he does. And pays the highest price for it. Helen - beautiful face. Obviously men decided the Trojan war was her fault. Surprisingly intelligent, and could easily spar with Odysseus. Pretty sure she picked Menelaus because he's so stupid.Medusa - perhaps the ultimate misunderstood and badly represented of the Greek women. Demonstrates the sexualised fear and misogynistic objectification of strong females in the myths. Myths retold by angry white men.Amazons - the ultimate woman tribe. Women supporting women, bolstering each other up. It's interesting to see the differences between the original texts and how they've been perverted over time (again, by fragile white men) and the parallels with modern day counterparts like Wonder Woman and Buffy. Clytemnestra - Agamemnon's wife. Iphegenia's mother. Clever and cunning, she bows to no man in her quest for revenge. Again, she's the image every man fears - a dominant, intelligent woman who can think for herself.Eurydice - Orpheus's shadow. Lover. Muse. Has a history steeped in sacrifice that had been warped to instead reflect Orpheus's tale. Eurydice has instead been stripped of her voice and desires. Is it Orpheus's selfishness rather than love that pulls her from peace in the Underworld? Because no-one asks Eurydice for her opinion. Phaedra - with Phaedra's story we enter into the discussion of sexual violence against women, and the removal of said violence in later texts to keep the shine on the male Greek heroes. Theseus is not a nice man. He's a serial rapist who seems to delight in making his way through women. Yet it's Phaedra who is vilified and remembered for her instigation of rape myth and false allegations. No less serious, but we seem to conveniently forget or romanticise the rape of women.Medea - Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. All consuming in her power, passion and need for revenge, Medea is one hell of a woman. With the talent to beguile, she is woefully underestimated by every man she crosses and her pursuit of vengeance knows no bounds. I mean, this is the woman who cuts up her little brother to stop her father pursuing her lover, Jason. The woman has no boundaries.Penelope - the Greek wife of Odysseus who is forever put on the pedestal as the perfect wife. Patiently and faithfully waiting 20 years for her husband to return, while using her wits to keep suitors at bay. She's often seen as the woman to pit against every other woman to be found lacking. Yet through the years she's been whittled down to a fraction of who she is. Where has the intelligent woman who ruled alone while raising a child gone?To reiterate: a great feminist look at several important and colourful women throughout the Greek myths. I also appreciated the many, many Clash of the Titans references. My childhood heart swelled with nostalgia at the mention of Bubo the owl. Highly recommend for lovers of the classic myths.

Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader

March 31, 2022

This is such a smart and fascinating explanation and retelling by scholar Natalie Haynes. She is also a comic, and you can feel her sense of humor in this highly readable nonfiction text tackling multiple myths; the humor makes it truly stand out. I took Classics in college, and I absolutely loved it. I can only imagine, if I’d had access to a text like this along with an illuminating discussion, how much it would have added to my experience. I hope that Classics’ professors today are employing nonfiction works by Haynes and other scholars to round out the stories with different viewpoints.Overall, I enjoyed this in-depth nonfiction narrative and hope Natalie Haynes has more mythology to re-dress (readdress? Retell!) with us. I can’t wait to read A Thousand Ships, which I have on my shelf; a story about the women of the Trojan War.I received a gifted copy.Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

Dannii

February 11, 2021

Classicist Natalie Haynes has penned this extraordinarily interesting non-fiction in the hope of addressing some of the prejudice and inaccuracies forced upon some of mythology's female figures. These women are often relegated to the side-lines of the story, and when they are granted an extended focus it is for their role as either the mother, the sinner, or the monster. Sometimes all three at once. But was this always the case and, if so, just why are women depicted as behaving in such a narrow spectrum?This was such an incredible feminist insight to some of mythology's most infamous females. Ten mythological figures were each granted their own chapter in which to explore their character creation, the variations that abounded in different texts, and their modern-day relevance. It remained light and witty in tone and yet provided an abundance of information on each figure and the stories they stemmed from.Time spent inside these pages flew just as quickly as it does when I am immersed in fiction, so compelling was Haynes' focus and narrative style. This was a flawless creation and it is my ardent wish that this volume will become just one instalment in a series of similar creations. I still have much to learn about mythology and I want only this author to illuminate the past for me.

Nikita

January 02, 2021

Natalie Haynes is back with this eloquent, witty and powerful book about women from Greek mythology. We meet Pandora, Jocasta, Helen, Medusa and many more women who haven’t had their stories told this way, a way where every version of them is acknowledged, analysed, juxtaposed and most importantly humanised. Haynes provides us with every one of their myths and changes the perspective to add to their stories, giving us far more fully fleshed out characters. It’s interesting how much more three dimensional these mythological women become when their stories are being told by a writer who addresses their tales with warmth and nuance. Haynes touches on the works of playwrights like Euripides and Sophocles, art from Michaelangelo and brings in revelations from Pseudo Apollodorus and Aeschylus among many others to invoke a deeper meaning to the stories of the women we think we know. Fascinating and spellbinding, I’ll be recommending this book to everyone I know.

Trish

August 28, 2022

I came across this author when Waterstones told me they had this special signed edition of her latest book. Since I still have to wait for this book to arrive here, I checked for others and stumbled upon her previous publications. So now I'm reading the three that appealed to me the most - two fictions and this non-fiction.We are told about 10 of the most famous women in Greek mythology:1) Pandora2) Jocasta(this is kinda a weird depiction of Jocasta, but I find the artwork beautiful so I'm using it)3) Helen4) Medusa5) Amazons6) Clytemnestra7) Eurydice8) Phaedra9) Medea10) PenelopeWe learn about every woman's story through the different versions of the Greek myths they feature in. But the author then also critically examines each version and puts it into context. This goes for ancient sources as well as later ones right up until modern incarnations. And yes, on top of poetry collections, Hollywood movie and TV show versions are referenced as well. *lol*Especially remarkable was the reference to what had actually been done to French women after WW2 (their hair was shorn off and they were sometimes even disfigured to make them less beautiful in punishment for having been desirable to the enemy), which was basically what had been done to Medusa and perhaps to Helen, too - be it out of blame or to protect them. And then there was the almost effortless incorporation of the examination of rape (looked at from a historical viewpoint as well as current figures), of men and women alike, in the context of real rapes vs. false allegations. Most authors never go this far, though they should.It shows how thoroughly at home the author is in Greek mythology and how vast her knowledge. Unsurprisingly, since the author is a journalist and has been on several podcasts and BBC programs about history and the classics for years. This book never tries to lay blame on anyone in particular, no matter how morally wrong decisions made and actions taken were (see the example of the shorn or even mutilated women above) or how misogynistic most depictions have been. After all, it's not about payback but about elucidation. Which is why the author manages to point out what has been and still is wrong by elaborating the difference in how women were shown and treated compared to how men were. This includes delicious logic errors being pointed out (many of which have irked me ever since I started reading mythology) and offers possible alternatives that were never addressed in the myths. However, that is all done without preaching or even screeching - she's scientifically detached and that is what I think I appreciated the most about this book.Nevertheless, HOW you tell people about history and mythology goes a long way to get people interested and hold their interest, and this author has a wonderful writing style and narration (she reads the audiobook herself). A thoroughly researched and detailed book that was erudite and fascinating from start to finish.

Priskah

December 22, 2022

5 ✨✨✨This is an excellent book. I'll definitely reread it. Funny and witty. Loved it.

Tamara

June 28, 2022

Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes explores ten famous women in classical mythology by dedicating a chapter to each woman. Beginning with Pandora and concluding with Penelope, Haynes examines the literary sources of these mythological figures, their various appearances in classical plays, poems, and artifacts, as well as their more recent manifestations in art, music, theatre, and film. Her exploration includes Jocasta, Helen of Troy, Medusa, Clytemnestra, Eurydice, Phaedra, Medea, and the Amazons. By exploring their representation in various classical works, Haynes expands our understanding of these figures. Her interrogation demonstrates their contradictory portrayals even within the classical period. They were used as scapegoats for the failings of men; as tools to implement a god’s vengeance; punished for being victims of male aggression; outsmarting their male counterparts; unfairly depicted as villains and monsters; and blamed for situations over which they had no control. She fleshes out these women, giving them voice and a nuanced portrayal. Among the classical playwrights, Euripides emerges as a favorite for writing strong roles for women and for placing them center stage instead of relegating them to the margins. He gives voice to their suffering and subordinate status as no other classical writer has done. His Medea is praised for its portrayal of a brilliant, scheming woman whose speeches about the position of women in patriarchy continue to resonate centuries later. Haynes is well-versed in the classics. She provides a broad outline of the texts in which each of the women appear. And then she interrogates the text and poses questions to challenge the predominant lens of male privilege. She peppers her analysis with Greek and Latin words, translating them and explaining their linguistic ambiguities. She argues our perspective on these women has been colored by centuries of a skewed interpretation of language influenced by a misogynistic lens. She aims to encourage a re-visioning of these women and offers a new and invigorating re-interpretation of their role in mythology. Haynes’ feminist analysis of these famous women in classical texts is accessible, lively, and peppered with humor and wit. Although her extensive knowledge of classical literature is apparent, she doesn’t weigh the work down with heavy scholarship. Her language is accessible and engaging; her interpretations are provocative and refreshing. She challenges the reader to re-visit the women in classical mythology with a fresh look and a more nuanced and balanced lens.Highly recommended.My book reviews are also available at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com

Roomies'

February 18, 2022

4.5 ⭐️ NETGALLEY VLOG & FULL THOUGHTS: https://youtu.be/1FsF-U-VQFoCompletely unexpected, but so SO good if you are at all interested in Greek mythology and the stories behind the women throughout. More thoughts in our NetGalley vlog out at the end of the month, but BRAVO. Very impressed.xx-Christine

Li ☾

November 07, 2022

“Myths may be the home of the miraculous, but they are also mirrors of us. Which version of a story we choose to tell, which characters we place in the foreground, which ones we allow to fade into the shadows: these reflect both the teller and the reader, as much as they show the characters of the myth. We have made space in our story-telling to rediscover women who have been lost or forgotten. They are not villains, victims, wives and monsters: they are people.”After reading and loving A Thousand ships I could not wait to pick this one up and whilst it is more of a non-fiction read compared to A thousand ships, it was just as brilliant! Haynes knowledge and passion of Greek myths just radiates through her books ... always so well researched and perfectly detailed they never disappoint. In pandoras Jar Haynes gives a brief but in-depth feminist exploration of ten notable women from Greek myth (Pandora, Jocasta, Helen, Medusa, The Amazon’s, Clytemnestra, Eurydice, Phaedra, Medea and Penelope) and not only was it fascinating, insightful and just utterly captivating, it was also surprisingly quite funny at times too. I loved it! I also enjoyed the more modern references throughout the book, such as Beyonce, Star Trek, Orange is the new black, Clash of the Titans and my favourite being the Amazons chapter where Haynes compares the Amazon warriors such as Penthesilea to Buffy the vampire Slayer.Without a doubt and recommended read from me for all who love Greek mythology - especially if you already have quite a bit of knowledge of Greek mythology and these particular characters and their stories.An insightful, clever and witty read!

Chantal

May 04, 2022

Natalie Haynes is the queen of Greek mythology and I want to read everything she has published. Her and Madeline Miller are true gems in this space.

Athena

June 14, 2022

A wonderful collection of nonfiction essays about various women in classical mythology, Pandora's Jar was fascinating from start to finish. With wit, charm, nerdiness, and just the right amount of raging feminism, there is very little I would change. Of course, I can't summarize this book better than the author herself:“Every myth contains multiple timelines within itself: the time in which it is set, the time it is first told, and every retelling afterwards. Myths may be the home of the miraculous, but they are also mirrors of us. Which version of a story we choose to tell, which characters we place in the foreground, which ones we allow to fade into the shadows: these reflect both the teller and the reader, as much as they show the characters of the myth. We have made space in our storytelling to rediscover women who have been lost or forgotten. They are not villains, victims, wives and monsters: they are people.”

Frequently asked questions

Listening to audiobooks not only easy, it is also very convenient. You can listen to audiobooks on almost every device. From your laptop to your smart phone or even a smart speaker like Apple HomePod or even Alexa. Here’s how you can get started listening to audiobooks.

  • 1. Download your favorite audiobook app such as Speechify.
  • 2. Sign up for an account.
  • 3. Browse the library for the best audiobooks and select the first one for free
  • 4. Download the audiobook file to your device
  • 5. Open the Speechify audiobook app and select the audiobook you want to listen to.
  • 6. Adjust the playback speed and other settings to your preference.
  • 7. Press play and enjoy!

While you can listen to the bestsellers on almost any device, and preferences may vary, generally smart phones are offer the most convenience factor. You could be working out, grocery shopping, or even watching your dog in the dog park on a Saturday morning.
However, most audiobook apps work across multiple devices so you can pick up that riveting new Stephen King book you started at the dog park, back on your laptop when you get back home.

Speechify is one of the best apps for audiobooks. The pricing structure is the most competitive in the market and the app is easy to use. It features the best sellers and award winning authors. Listen to your favorite books or discover new ones and listen to real voice actors read to you. Getting started is easy, the first book is free.

Research showcasing the brain health benefits of reading on a regular basis is wide-ranging and undeniable. However, research comparing the benefits of reading vs listening is much more sparse. According to professor of psychology and author Dr. Kristen Willeumier, though, there is good reason to believe that the reading experience provided by audiobooks offers many of the same brain benefits as reading a physical book.

Audiobooks are recordings of books that are read aloud by a professional voice actor. The recordings are typically available for purchase and download in digital formats such as MP3, WMA, or AAC. They can also be streamed from online services like Speechify, Audible, AppleBooks, or Spotify.
You simply download the app onto your smart phone, create your account, and in Speechify, you can choose your first book, from our vast library of best-sellers and classics, to read for free.

Audiobooks, like real books can add up over time. Here’s where you can listen to audiobooks for free. Speechify let’s you read your first best seller for free. Apart from that, we have a vast selection of free audiobooks that you can enjoy. Get the same rich experience no matter if the book was free or not.

It depends. Yes, there are free audiobooks and paid audiobooks. Speechify offers a blend of both!

It varies. The easiest way depends on a few things. The app and service you use, which device, and platform. Speechify is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks. Downloading the app is quick. It is not a large app and does not eat up space on your iPhone or Android device.
Listening to audiobooks on your smart phone, with Speechify, is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks.

footer-waves