The Classical Detective
Surrey Life|January 2020
The ancient world is thriving in suburban Surrey. Claire Saul talks to acclaimed classicist Daisy Dunn
Claire Saul
The Classical Detective

Greek philosophers, Roman gods… for most of us, the Classical era has an other-worldly quality. Yet these ancient civilizations are very much a feature of our 21st-century existence, discreetly echoed in our language, reflected in art and architecture, referenced in the names and logos of companies and products, and more.

Classicist, art historian and cultural critic Dr. Daisy Dunn is intent on sharing them with a modern audience, to educate those of us who have, at best, vague recognition of the names or places of the classical world, but whose knowledge remains as sketchy as Zeus’ notion of fidelity.

“I write more narrative history, for people who won’t necessarily be familiar with the Greek or Roman world,” explains Daisy. “Classical material is a real challenge, you have bits and pieces all over the place or a few letters with whole lines missing and much of the time the context in which something has been written is unknown, or you need to view things bearing in mind the conventions of the time. Also, bar a few fragmentary poems by Sappho, the sources for women are very few and much of the existing material written about women is really negative. I need to draw out the story from all these fragments of information as much as possible, piecing them together and joining dots to create a bigger picture, like a classical detective.”

AMO, AMAS, AMAT…

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 2020-Ausgabe von Surrey Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 2020-Ausgabe von Surrey Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS SURREY LIFEAlle anzeigen
The House That Rocks
Surrey Life

The House That Rocks

Transforming an impressive, seven-bedroom Victorian property in Dorking wasn’t without its challenges, but the result is a stunning family home that has had the interiors world raving

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 2020
REMEDY FOR SUCCESS
Surrey Life

REMEDY FOR SUCCESS

Surrey’s Tracy Borman discusses the return of her heroine healer in the final book of her best-selling fictional trilogy

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
Love Celia
Surrey Life

Love Celia

Actress Celia Imrie has travelled the world for work and leisure but wherever she goes there is a part of her which is forever Surrey

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH
Surrey Life

EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH

Art & Action: Making Change in Victorian Britain at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village in Compton focuses on the Victorian roots of art activism

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2020
Electric dreams
Surrey Life

Electric dreams

The Range Rover plug-in hybrid brings silent electric motoring to this iconic luxury car

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2020
THE OPEN ROAD
Surrey Life

THE OPEN ROAD

Chris Pickering rounds up some of the best drives in Surrey

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
TOWN AND COUNTRY: Oxted & Limpsfield
Surrey Life

TOWN AND COUNTRY: Oxted & Limpsfield

With the North Downs looming nearby and glorious countryside surrounding it, Oxted is a town with real “escape from London” appeal and character, while nearby Limpsfield has a superb village vibe with its own community-run pub

time-read
7 Minuten  |
November 2020
Artist to the stars
Surrey Life

Artist to the stars

Known as ‘The Face of Modern British Impressionism’, Mickleham-based Sherree Valentine Daines is celebrating four decades at the forefront of her field

time-read
8 Minuten  |
November 2020
A RIGHT ROYAL WELCOME
Surrey Life

A RIGHT ROYAL WELCOME

The Signet Collection’s inaugural hotel project is a reimagining of a former royal guest house, situated directly opposite Hampton Court Palace

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2020
TOWN AND COUNTRY: Godalming & Hascombe
Surrey Life

TOWN AND COUNTRY: Godalming & Hascombe

On the banks of the River Wey, Godalming is a watercolour pretty town surrounded by pristine countryside and in-demand rural villages, such as Hascombe

time-read
4 Minuten  |
October 2020