Medusa is the only mortal in a family of gods and monsters. She leads a happy and sheltered life with her Gorgon sisters, who treasure her, On a visit to Athene's new temple, she is raped by Poseidon and her life changes forever. Athene is furious, and rather than punishing Poseidon for the crime, she curses Medusa. Her hair is replaced with a writhing mass of snakes and her gaze turns anyone she looks at to stone. The power cannot be controlled: Medusa can look at nothing without destroying it. She is condemned to a life of shadows and darkness. And then Perseus comes on a quest in search of a Gorgon's head.

Susannah Fielding reads the new novel by Natalie Haynes – the Women’s Prize-shortlisted author of A Thousand Ships and presenter of Radio 4's Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics.

Produced by Mary Ward-Lowery for BBC Audio
Abridged by Sara Davies
Editing and sound design by Mair Bosworth
Studio engineering and mix by Michael Harrison Show less