Mary Beard's by now famous blog A Don's Life has been running on the TLS website for nearly three years. In it she has made her name as a wickedly subversive commentator on the world in which we live. Her central themes are the classics, universities and teaching - and much else besides. What are academics for? Who was the first African Roman emperor? Looting - ancient and modern. Are modern exams easier? Keep lesbos for the lesbians. Did St Valentine exist? What made the Romans laugh? That is just a small taste of this selection (and some of the choicer responses) which will inform, occasionally provoke and cannot fail to entertain.
It's a Don's Life
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`enjoyable... Beard is an exuberant communicator' --Dinah Birch, Observer
`Whether tackling the Afghan conflict or sexy statues, Cambridge professor Mary Beard's spiky blog has become an internet sensation'
--The Times
`Sharply observed, often hilarious slices of academic life' --Charlotte Higgins, Guardian
`Beard's studies of bygone times are infused with a peppering of wit that is unusual in an academic work'
--Julian Fleming, Sunday Business Post
'Beard remains self-deprecatory, invigoratingly sane and zestful' --Frances Spalding, Independent
'delightful...It has the virtues of brevity, eclecticism and learning worn lightly...' --Sam Leith, Daily Mail
`Beard has a spry, pithy, conversational style... a diverting read' --Edmund Gordon, Sunday Times
"Well-written, in short column-length bursts, it's the thinking person's loo book' --Alastair Mabbott, Glasgow Herald
`Whether tackling the Afghan conflict or sexy statues, Cambridge professor Mary Beard's spiky blog has become an internet sensation'
--The Times
`Sharply observed, often hilarious slices of academic life' --Charlotte Higgins, Guardian
`Beard's studies of bygone times are infused with a peppering of wit that is unusual in an academic work'
--Julian Fleming, Sunday Business Post
'Beard remains self-deprecatory, invigoratingly sane and zestful' --Frances Spalding, Independent
'delightful...It has the virtues of brevity, eclecticism and learning worn lightly...' --Sam Leith, Daily Mail
`Beard has a spry, pithy, conversational style... a diverting read' --Edmund Gordon, Sunday Times
"Well-written, in short column-length bursts, it's the thinking person's loo book' --Alastair Mabbott, Glasgow Herald
Book Description
Britain's best known classicist speaks her mind on the ancient, and modern, worlds. A wide-ranging selection from her 'best hit' blog.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By G. M. Sinstadt
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
This collection of blogs should be read for what it is - a very personal view of the daily round for a Cambridge professor; she enjoys some days more than others - don't we all? Never got to Cambridge myself, probably on intellectual grounds, but Prof Beard's college (Newnham) would have had other reasons for rejecting me. Still, this makes me think I missed something worth while.
I had just finished Robert Harris's Lustrum when I picked this up, thinking the work of a Classics Professor would be a logical follow-up. It worked well on that level, and the humour was an unexpected bonus.
Highly recommended
I had just finished Robert Harris's Lustrum when I picked this up, thinking the work of a Classics Professor would be a logical follow-up. It worked well on that level, and the humour was an unexpected bonus.
Highly recommended
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a series of articles culled from the author's blog, who is a lecturer in Classics at Cambridge.
I mostly enjoyed this read. The blog posts are varied from the use of Latin by David Beckam to of all things book reviews on Amazon. These posts seem to give a peek into the world of a Classics Don and perhaps dispel some myths about the relative ease of academic life. Still a stylistic drawback is the author's occasional harping against the male power & privileges and budget constraints; the reader remains somewhat unsympathetic on reading of her expeditions to Pompeii and the US.
Some negatives are that blog articles do not come across well in a written book format. They are too short to give a more detailed insight into some of authors more interesting topics. As well, the reader lacks the necessary background information to put these in context.
I mostly enjoyed this read. The blog posts are varied from the use of Latin by David Beckam to of all things book reviews on Amazon. These posts seem to give a peek into the world of a Classics Don and perhaps dispel some myths about the relative ease of academic life. Still a stylistic drawback is the author's occasional harping against the male power & privileges and budget constraints; the reader remains somewhat unsympathetic on reading of her expeditions to Pompeii and the US.
Some negatives are that blog articles do not come across well in a written book format. They are too short to give a more detailed insight into some of authors more interesting topics. As well, the reader lacks the necessary background information to put these in context.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, written with a lightness of touch,but informing and enlightening at the same time.
Will seek out other Mary Beard books.
Will seek out other Mary Beard books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Small Bites of Life.
Mary Beard is a heroine of mine. I was greatly distressed by the verbal attacks on the social media network, and wanted to learn more about her. This book fulfils that purpose.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. Angela READ
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's a Don's Life
Bought together with Mary Beard's "All in a Don's Day". I found it amusing and interesting, as well as informative. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jungmann
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant for any lover of the Classics
I've been following Prof Beard's blog, and the publishers very kindly sent me a review copy - it's brilliant, funny, and a must-have for any fan of the Classics. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2009 by Dorothy King
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