What a way to start a new series! It's the author, classicist, broadcaster and bone fide National Treasure Dame Mary Beard. We were lucky enough to speak to Mary during the Jaiphur Literary Festival at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives. Mary is the author of many books about the ancient world including the global bestsellers Women & Power, SPQR and her latest Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World. We talked to her about ancient Roman jokes, brutal writing advice, fearing fiction and the pros and cons of archaeology.Daisy will be at Henley Literary Festival in early October and at the Margate Bookie at the end of October. Details of Daisy's How To Be a Grown Up event with Sarah Knight are available HERE. Find out more about Daisy's Creative Confidence Substack and her Summer School Writing Course HERE or email: creativeconfidenceclinic@gmail.com. And sign up for the You're Booked newsletter by heading to:  FurtherReading.Substack.com. Find out more about all the books mentioned on the episode by visiting https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/bookedBOOKSDaisy Buchanan - LimelightDaisy Buchanan - How To Be a Grown UpMary Beard - Women & PowerMary Beard - Emperor of RomeCharlotte Bronte - Jane EyreJenny Diski - Stranger on a TrainRobert Graves - I, ClaudiusMargaret Drabble - The MillstoneMargaret Drabble - The Garrick YearRobert Harris - PompeiiHeinrich Schliemann - Ilios, the City and Country of the TrojansLindsey Davis - The Silver PigsMary Renault - The King Must DiePeter Frankopan - The Silk RoadKim Gordon, Sinead Gleason (Eds) - This Woman's WorkSophocles - AntigoneMary Beard - Roman LaughterSeneca the Younger - ApocolocyntosisCassius Dio - The Roman HistoryTom Holland - Slave of my ThirstTom Holland - RubiconGavanndra Hodge - The Consequences of LoveGeorge Orwell - Coming Up For AirLaura Cumming - On Chapel SandsCraig Brown - Maam DarlingCurtis Sittenfeld - RodhamHilary Clinton - State of TerrorTacitus - AnnalsPrince Harry - Spare Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.