Medusa: New & Ancient Norse Tales

Building on the huge popularity of mythological retellings, here is the story of the much misunderstood Medusa, told through ancient and modern minds, in a beautiful collectable edition.

Variously described as a fiend, a monster, a charming seductress who was felled by the righteous might of Perseus, son of Zeus, Medusa is perhaps the most misunderstood of mythological women. Described by male historians, poets and epic writers such as Hesiod and Ovid, there are many aspects of her imagined life which find resonance in the struggles of the outsider, the cursed and those used in the service of another’s vision of the world around them. This fascinating collection brings together new stories and ancient origins, offering a wider perspective on the whole life of the powerful, wonderful Medusa.

Introductory essay by Liv Albert, and foreword by Miriam Robbins Dexter. The modern authors whose stories feature in this book are: Alicia K. Anderson, Mel Attica, Casey Banks, Danai Christopoulou, Grace P. Fong, Rhys Hughes, Tom Johnstone, Amanda Cecelia Lang, Megan Mahoney, Tracie McBride, Zenobia Neil, Gabriella Ramalho, Oneness Sankara, Zach Shephard, Liv Strom, Theresa Tyree and Leah Warren.

About the series: Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a legendary, mythological or folkloric figure, with new stories alongside a comprehensive introduction which tells the original tales and emphasizes ancient and modern connections, tracing history and stories across continents, cultures and peoples. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well known stories, complementing the specially commissioned story of the origins and the cultural background from the era. The first titles are Medusa, Odin, Anansi and Circe.

Liv Albert is creator and host of the top-rated podcast, Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!, and author of two books on Greek Myth. She has a degree in English Literature and Classical Civilizations and spends much of her time arguing about the mythological origins of Medusa. She lives in Victoria, Canada.

Miriam Robbins Dexter, Ph.D., is the author and contributor of several books (including Re-visioning Medusa: from Monster to Divine Wisdom), over 40 articles on ancient female figures, and editor or co-editor of 16 scholarly volumes. Miriam has extensive teaching experience in Latin, Greek and Sanskrit languages at USC and comparative myth at UCLA.