Mary Beard returns to the Mishcon Academy for her second visit, this time to introduce her new book, Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old.
In Talking Classics, Mary explores the often surprising ways the ancient world continues to shape our modern lives. From revolutionaries and dictators to Bob Dylan and Beyoncé, she uncovers the unlikely cast of contemporary figures who have found inspiration in antiquity. As Mary puts it, you don’t have to love the classical world, but it’s a real shame not to.
Drawing on fifty years of teaching and research, she fills the book with vivid stories, curious facts and more than a little juicy gossip. Talking Classics is her spirited argument for why the distant past still resonates with all of us today.