Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old by Mary Beard
£16.99 GBP
Skip to product information
Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old by Mary Beard
£16.99 GBP
Reliable shipping
Flexible returns
The world's most acclaimed classicist on whether and why the Classics still matter
FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF EMPEROR OF ROME AND SPQR'The rock star scholar of Ancient Rome' FINANCIAL TIMES 'The reigning Queen of Classics' SPECTATORWhat's exciting about a piece of bread 4,000 years old? Or some pots of paint abandoned in the eruption at Pompeii? Why should we be bothered with the distant past anyway? What's the point?The life, art and literature of ancient Greece and Rome have something to offer everyone. They are not the property of wealthy white men only. They make us wonder how to make sense of people who lived long ago (from angry landlords to giggling senators) - and to think harder about our own world, to look at it differently.In Talking Classics, Mary Beard points to the surprising connections between antiquity and the present. From revolutionaries to dictators, Bob Dylan to Beyoncé, she joins forces with the varied modern characters who have been transfixed by the ancient world. It's not compulsory, she argues, to be excited by antiquity, but it's a shame not to be.After half a century teaching and studying classics, she fills the book with lively stories, curious facts and some good gossip. Talking Classics explains why the deep past does really affect us all.
Publisher: Profile Books
Date Published: 16/04/2026
ISBN: 9781805220312
Number of pages: 208
Binding:
Book genres:
Target audience:
You may also like...
You may also like...
Literary Cat's A-List
Looking for a second-hand or antiquarian book?
Use the searchbox below to look-up our database of 10,000+ second-hand and antiquarian books.
Can't find the right book?
We've partnered with bookshop.org to provide nearly any book in print, delivered to your door.
Every book purchase supports Literary Cat Books.
Enjoy audiobooks?
Want a guilt-free way of enjoying audiobooks?
Our partner Libro.fm has you covered with a large library and priced competitively.
Use promo code SWITCH for two free audiobooks.
Every subscription supports Literary Cat Books.
Do you like our bookshop?
We would love you to share your experience of our bookshop, or a great book, on Google!
Help independent bookshops stand out on the map.