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.