“I have been obsessed with the ancient world since I was eleven years old, when I begin learning about Roman life at school.”
Classics is a subject that I have had to mild to passing interest in some ways, and earnest interest in others. I think I feel strongly about wanting to know more about Roman history, and Roman historical writing and philosophy, and not very much about Roman mythology. In the same way, I am earnestly interested in Greek mythology and philosophy, but then again I have never read The Republic, but not that interested in Greek history. Anything contemporaneous or geographical connected is a mixed bag for me as well. And my not so dark or not so hidden secret is that I am a bit of a completist in my reading and tend to avoid starting a new topic unless I feel like I might be able to close the lid on it.
Natalie Haynes maintains in this book that any amount of diving into the Classics (in the classical sense of Classics is good for you, and I tend to agree — she also caveats that by excepting Troy which I also agree with).
This book is a part memoir (in the smallest part) and part general pop history into the thinking and topical writing of Greek and Roman culture. It’s not unlike a lot of other similar books that travel the same ground and like those books, this one relies heavily on the charm and voice of the writer. Natalie Haynes to her credit and our joy is a compelling voice and interesting in the telling.
