1. Francesca, thank you for taking the time to talk to us about your book, The Best of the Grammarians, shortlisted for this year’s Runciman Award. This is a book by a scholar about a scholar. Can you say a bit to explain to the non-scholar readers of our website what it is all about? … Read more
The time is ripe for sailing the fifty days Past solstice, summer in its closing phase, Season of toil. You will not shipwreck then, Nor will the sea extinguish all your men, Unless Earth-shaker, Poseidon, is annoyed, Or Zeus, King of the Gods, wants you destroyed: In their hands lies fulfillment, good and ill. While … Read more
Alicia, thank you for taking the time to speak to us about your translation of Hesiod’s Works and Days, which has been shortlisted for this year’s Runciman Award. You seem particularly inspired to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Greek poets. Can you explain why you are drawn to them? I’ve lived in Greece … Read more
Following the announcement that Matthew Simonton and Colm Tóibín are joint winners of this year’s Runciman Award, we caught up with Mr Tóibín and asked him a few questions about his book, House of Names. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us about House of Names. Can we start by asking how your interest … Read more
Carolyn, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about your book. Before we turn to Collectors, Scholars, and Forgers in the Ancient World: Object Lessons, I’d like to ask about your background. You studied at Princeton and at Oxford, and spent some of your school years in Britain as well as in the … Read more