Heffers classics forum

[anef]

We spent yesterday at the law faculty listening to classicists being enthusiastic.  It was a huge amount of fun, as everybody had 20 minutes to talk about their latest book, or an aspect of their work, and definitely pitched at the general reader, rather than the academic.

Standouts included Jerry Toner, on How to Manage Your Slaves (notionally by Marcus Sidonius Falx, a Roman).  "I tried to get the author to come along to talk about his book but he was a bit dismissive.  He refused to come half way across the known world to talk to a bunch of Britunculi, without an eques or a senator amongst them."

Edith Hall, Harry Sidebottom and Natalie Haynes did a triple act which approached the status of stand up - Michael was giggling all the way through.

Michael Scott and Tom Holland were enthusiastic and engaging on Delphi and Herodotus respectively.  By then we had met up with S WINOLJ whom we know a little from fandom, and who is doing an OU classics degree.  S (who is female) and I engaged in a discussion of how ridiculously good-looking Michael Scott is, and how distracting it is when you're trying to listen to what he's saying. "Is the the one in the middle?" asked Michael.  "I can't see that he's good-looking".  Later we caught sight of him standing by the signing table.  "He's not even that tall," said Michael, in the way of someone making a point.  "I'm taller than him."

David Stuttard was dramatic and fascinating on famous Greeks, despite having quite a serious speech impediment.  He's written a lot on drama and I have made a mental note to look for his books on plays in the UL.

I bought a book (Twelve Voices from Greece and Rome), resisted many more that all looked fascinating and added another couple to my wish list, which is already full of Too Many Classics Books to Read.

Comments

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

It would be lovely if you could post a list of the books discussed for those of us not fortunate enough to be there.

Very interesting report - otherwise.

[anef.livejournal.com]

Here is the programme with books:

http://heffersclassics.wordpress.com/heffers-classics-forum-2014/

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

That looks like just what I wanted. Thank you very much.

[ms-cataclysm.livejournal.com]

I think Roger will like this too

[dorispossum.livejournal.com]

Sounds fascinsting. My star 'ideasfest' event this year was Ben Okri (also at law faculty) last saturday. Very challenging worldview and a great speaker. And i love the short stories + novels i've started reading recently - wonderful urban fantasy. Also enjoyed 'Assassination Before Lunch' talk/play on wed. And Nationalism 101 had good speakers, esp woman from LSE on Russia. I think the ideasfest is one of the best things coming out of the uni, and luckily for me it runs over half term!

[athenais.livejournal.com]

Oh excellent! I would have loved that. I don't have a list of Classics Books I Should Read. I believe I'll develop one.

[doubtingmichael.livejournal.com]

The thing about Michael Scott was that I felt like someone failing to resolve one of those 3D pictures. You were "He's very distracting!" and S was "I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying!", and I was practically squinting, trying to get the incredible hotness to come into view, and failing. It was like a puzzle that I couldn't solve.

[ms-cataclysm.livejournal.com]

I don't think you can understand what other people find attractive - for example I've been incredibly impressed by Benedict Cumberbatch's acting but really don't get why he's supposed to be icon of hotness.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this. I cannot find the "resolve into hotness" button on him. Lovely voice, excellent actor, extremely odd looking.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

Why were they doing classcs at the law faculty!

[anef.livejournal.com]

It was organised by Heffers, not by the classics faculty. Either the law faculty were cheaper or (just guessing here) they didn't want to mislead people by implying it was an official university event.