Greek mythology - what is it? Author Natalie Haynes explains: It provides a foundational framework for Western art, literature, and language.

By Pepper Parr

February 18th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

Greek mythology may not sound all that interesting – it can be.

Greek mythology is essential because it provides a foundational framework for Western art, literature, and language, influencing everything from the names of planets to modern branding (e.g., Venus/Aphrodite, Medusa logo Versace). It serves as a, timeless tool for understanding human psychology, morality, and societal structures, while offering enduring,, relatable stories about the human experience.

Natalie Haynes wrote No Friend to This House, a bold retelling of the myth of Jason and his Argonauts who set sail to find the Golden Fleece.

What is the Golden Fleece and just who is Jason and his Argonauts ?  Most people will think you are talking about the football team the Toronto Argonauts

Spend an illuminating afternoon with acclaimed novelist and classicist Natalie Haynes as she discusses her new book.

Jason was best known, however, as the captain of the Argo, the ship in which the heroic Argonauts sailed to Colchis to steal the Golden Fleece.

The journey is filled with danger for Jason and everyone he meets, and if he ever reaches the distant land he seeks, he faces almost certain death. Medea—priestess, witch, and daughter of a brutal king—has the power to save the life of a stranger. Will she betray her family and her home, and what will she demand in return? Medea and Jason seize their one chance at a life together, but their love is steeped in vengeance, and no one—not even those closest to them—will be safe.

A Different Drummer Books will be on site with books for sale and signing after the talk.

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About the Author

Natalie Haynes is the author of eight books, including the NYTimes nonfiction bestseller Pandora’s Jar, and the novels Stone Blind and A Thousand Ships, the latter of which was a national bestseller and short-listed for the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Haynes has written for the Times, the Independent, The Guardian, and the Observer. She lives in London, UK.