Review: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

Rating: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Mythological fiction  

Ideal for fans of: Stephen Fry and Madelaine Miller  

What makes it special? Unique retelling of a well-known Greek myth

Get it in South Africa from: Pan Macmillan South Africa

Medusa’s story is one of the best-known Greek myths. The Gorgon with the power to turn anything that met her gaze to stone, Medusa has been viewed as a monster for centuries. Similarly, the brave warrior who ended her reign of terror – Perseus – has the legacy of a hero, monster slayer and favourite of the gods. In beheading Medusa, he saved mankind from a bitter and evil woman, who relished her petrifying abilities.

But is that really how it all went down?

After all, what makes a monster?

These questions are central to Natalie Haynes’ investigation of Medusa.

In Stone Blind, Perseus is not the golden hero who saves the world from the ravages of a demented Gorgon. Instead, he has been cast as a vicious little thug, who murdered a girl for no real purpose. He is inexperienced, dim-witted and cowardly. And it changes everything.

According to Haynes, Perseus has no idea what he’s doing. He’s not cunning, but cruel.

Stone Blind is a feminist retelling of Medusa’s story. It begins long before her birth, providing context of the tragedies to which she was exposed, purely for the entertainment of the Greek gods.

Because if the inhabitants of Olympus treated people as their playthings, Medusa was their favourite toy. Her life was ruined by a meaningless battle – of egos – between Athene and Poseidon. Medusa did nothing to deserve her fate.

And then came Perseus, to give her an undeserved ending.

Of course, all mythology is open to interpretation and a bit of retelling. It’s what makes these stories linger throughout history. But Haynes has really outdone herself, and retold this piece of mythology in a totally unique way. For the first time, we see the other side of the story – a narrative forgotten or silenced or just never imagined.

In addition to giving us ample food for thought, and reason to want to demolish the patriarchy, this book features several well-known cast members of the theatre that is Greek myth. Altogether, Stone Blind is a vibrant and new way to see an old story, and it’s amazing.

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes is published by Mantle, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.