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No Friend to This House

A Novel

Natalie Haynes

384 Pages

On-Sale Date: 10/03/2026

ISBN: 9780063481329

Trim Size: 1.000in x 1.000in x 1.000in

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$20.00

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No Friend to This House is an extraordinary reimagining of the myth of Medea from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes.

This is what no one tells you, in the songs sung about Jason and the Argo. This part of his quest has been forgotten, by everyone but me . . .

Jason and his Argonauts set sail to find the Golden Fleece. The journey is filled with danger, for him and everyone he meets. But 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 of a life together, as the gods intend. But their love is steeped in vengeance from the beginning, and no one—not even those closest to them—will be safe.

Based on the classic tragedy by Euripides, this is Medea as you’ve never seen her before . . .

Natalie Haynes is the author of eight books, including the nonfiction work Pandora’s Jar, which was a New York Times bestseller, and the novels A Thousand Ships, which was a national bestseller and short-listed for the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction, and Stone Blind. She has written and recorded eleven series of Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics for the BBC. Haynes has written for the Times, the Independent, The Guardian, and the Observer. She lives in London.

“An illuminating and often thrilling work of feminist reclamation.” — The Guardian

“[A] wry, witty and ruthless retelling of Euripides’ play.” — Daily Mail (UK)

“A stunning, slowburning tale full of passion and vengeance.” — Woman & Home (UK)

“The myth of Medea captivatingly retold (complete with the most beautifully foil-tipped pages) will completely reset your commute.” — Stylist (UK)

“If there is one thing Natalie Haynes knows how to do, it is reposition the classics. And her latest offering, No Friend to This House, raises the bar even more . . . In the world of Greek tragedy, Medea is often considered one of the most complex and divisive characters. But Haynes’ No Friend To This House gives readers more to consider about her.” — Press Association

“Natalie Haynes is a once-in-a-generation storyteller, and No Friend to This House is her masterpiece. Haynes does not so much retell the myth of Medea as excavate it, layer by devastating layer, for truths both timeless and timely. This is a stunning novel that cuts to the bone.” — Amanda Foreman, author of A World on Fire

“Haynes’ Medea is especially striking – both fearless witch and desperate lover – capturing all the facets and contradictions of the character in the ancient sources . . . Another masterpiece from Haynes.” — Costanza Casati, internationally bestselling author of Babylonia and Clytemnestra

“An incredible feat of storytelling, bringing to life all the strands of the divine and human which led to one of the most fascinating myths of all time – Medea.” — Martha Kearney