Review of 'No Friend To This House' - Natalie Haynes

As with all Natalie Haynes’ books, the women of the story are very much at the heart of the plot. Each section is from the point of view of a different woman, but all the narratives are linked together by other characters and where one story breaks off, another picks up the thread, just from a different perspective. At times, this can make it a bit tricky to keep track of who everyone is, but you soon get back into the story and figure out the various relationships. 

The central principle of the book is the fact that every woman, whether god or human, is ultimately betrayed by a man she once loved and whom she thought loved her. Sometimes the women take their revenge, sometimes, they are content to simply protect the children they bore him. But they are always the losers.I’ve long felt Medea was not the villain she is so often painted as, and here, Haines has created a heartbreaking choice in the lead up to Medea’s infamous ‘slaughter’ of her children from Jason. What makes it so tragic is that it would still be a believable story if it was reported in the newspapers today. 

Medea is a complex character and because in this version of her story we hear from the goddesses who are propelling her towards her fate, we get a much clearer insight into how little control she initially has over what happens. Once she is in the situation however, she makes many mistakes by modern standards. However, tellingly, what seems to drive the biggest wedge between her and Jason is not the murders she encourages on his behalf, but the fact that she is more in demand than he is. Heroes are not meant to be outshone by their wives and as much as Medea tries to allow her husband the spotlight he craves, she is by far the most useful of the two. He relies on charm and a winning smile, while she has wits and intelligence on her side, so naturally, once people get to know them, it is her they turn to. Again, this is a story so many women are familiar with. 

I think this is one of the reasons why the Greek myths have such an enduring appeal for me. When I was a child, I was drawn to the heroic exploits. As an adult, I am more interested in the collateral damage along the way and listening to the voices of the women in the stories because they are the moser interesting ones – anyone can be a hero with the help of the gods, but it takes a far stronger character to pick up the pieces left behind and carry on with life as best you can.