Myth and Masculinity: The Feminist Beowulf

Here Be More Than Dragons… In a dramatic exploration of the persistence of myths, portrayals of masculinity, and new literary interpretations as a barometer for our times, Beowulf’s new and celebrated translator Maria Dahvana Headley will be in conversation with rock-star mythologist Natalie Haynes. The session will be illustrated with original Beowulf manuscripts from the British Library archives, and animated with a performance from Gemma Whelan (aka Game of Thrones’ Yara Greyjoy).

Maria Dahvana Headley is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author and editor, most recently of the novels The Mere Wife, Magonia, Queen of Kings, and the memoir The Year of Yes. With Kat Howard she is the co-author of The End of the Sentence, and with Neil Gaiman she is the co-editor of Unnatural Creatures. Her short stories have been shortlisted for the Shirley Jackson, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards.

Natalie Haynes is a writer, the broadcaster behind the Radio 4 show Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics and – according to The Washington Post – a rock-star mythologist. Her first novel, The Amber Fury, was acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic, as was The Ancient Guide to Modern Life. Her retelling of the Trojan War, A Thousand Ships, was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2020. Her most recent book is Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths.

Gemma Whelan is an actor and comedian, best known for playing Yara Greyjoy in Game of Thrones. She won the Funny Women Variety Award for stand-up comedy in 2010, and performs stand-up in character as Chastity Butterworth. On screen, she has played roles in Gulliver's Travels, The Crown, Killing Eve, Upstart Crow and The End of the ****ing World.