Renegade scoops ‘dazzling’ and ‘enriching’ debut exploring ancient goddesses 

Renegade Books, an imprint of Dialogue, has signed Goddess With a Thousand Faces, a debut book by classicist and ancient world expert Jasmine Elmer.  

Christina Demosthenous, publisher, acquired world rights and audio from Kirsty Milner at Stella Media, with a publication date scheduled for September 2024.  

Renegade says Goddess With a Thousand Faces blends historical research with mythological retellings to explore the modern concept of femininity. 

Its synopsis reads: “From Rangda in Bali, to Freyja in Iceland and more recognisable faces such as the Greek goddess Artemis, it is a work of true inclusion – readers will be invited to consider these goddesses as part of a cultural canon of human femininity; regardless of race, sex or gender. 

“A first of its kind, Goddess with a Thousand Faces asks us to interrogate our past through a fresh new lens. We’re challenged to comprehend our relationship with the feminine within us, question the legacy of goddesses and whether we might see them in the faces of us all.” 

Known for her work as a “straight-talking expert” on Channel 4, Channel 5, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel and History Hit, Elmer aims to engage the public in the ancient past by using the modern world as a springboard into the ancient one. She also brings her 20 years of classical education knowledge into her podcast “Legit Classics".

Elmer said: “I needed to write the kind of book I have been yearning to read, one that shows us both the ancient world and the modern one through a relatable and powerful lens. It is a bold, global tale of the femininity of our goddesses of past and present, made alive through vibrant retellings based on source material and supported by historical context. Non-fiction with soul! 

“The reader should feel as if they are walking alongside the goddess, exploring her story and her culture before reclaiming her through their own feminine power.” 

Demosthenous added: “Her approach couldn’t be more aligned with our ethos: the ancient world and the classics should be for everyone; not just the elite few. Her straight-talking, eye-opening and wickedly feminist exploration has taught me so much.”