Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old

by Mary Beard

Description

In Talking Classics, Mary Beard points to the surprising connections between antiquity and the present. From revolutionaries to dictators, Bob Dylan to Beyonc, she joins forces with the varied modern characters who have been transfixed by the ancient world.

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3 reviews

amanda4242 784 reviews

Mary Beard's knowledge of her subject is clearly vast, and she has many fascinating things to say about the history, the uses, the abuses, and the future of the study of Ancient Greece and Rome. However, reading this book sometimes felt like a chore: it started as a series of lectures, and it often felt like she wasn't coming to a point.

Overall, I do appreciate what Beard is saying, but I just don't think she said it very well here.

Received via NetGalley.

Jan 8, 2026

Amw100 9 reviews

I totally agree with Amanda. I have every volume Mary has written and regularly refer to them. However, I am sorry to say that I cannot see the point in this one. I fear that this volume will collect a lot of dust.

Apr 17, 2026

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