| Title | : | Natalie Haynes Stands Up For the Classics: A Comical Guide to Ancient Greece and Rome, Series 1-4 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Audible Audio |
| Number of Pages | : | 8 |
| Publication | : | First published March 21, 2019 |
Natalie is a recovering comedian who is a little bit obsessive about Ancient Greece and Rome. Each week she takes a different figure from the ancient world and tells their story through a mix of stand-up comedy and conversation.
Over the course of these four series she tells the stories of Sophocles (who invents the TV detective with Oedipus - bad things happen), Virgil (who creates Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Aspasia (how to be a notorious woman in ancient Greece), Ovid (expect frottage at the races), Plato (on the chunky side, but very good at wrestling) and Sappho (a lot of gossip from over 1,000 years ago), among others.
Featuring special guests including classicists Professor Edith Hall and Professor Llewelyn Morgan, novelists Stella Duffy and Ben Okri and comedians Katy Brand and Al Murray.
Natalie Haynes Stands Up For the Classics: A Comical Guide to Ancient Greece and Rome, Series 1-4 Reviews
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This is a perfect blend of history and comedy. Natalie Haynes explores many classical figures in a lighthearted manner, many of whom I personally had barely ever heard of. But her passion of ancient history is contagious and I am glad that I learned about them now.
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I didn't actually listen to this as an audiobook but as a podcast, but if Goodreads will let me count it... *shrug*. Besides, I don't feel too guilty because I'm gonna listen to the other three seasons anyway.
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Made me read more ancient greek and roman texts
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Listened to seasons 1- 6 on BBC for free. -
Educational and satirical. Had a chuckle while cleaning up lol
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History with modern references and comedy - a great approach to biography of the ancient world.
Having always enjoyed learning about these periods, and having enjoyed Haynes' book 'An Ancient Guide to Modern Life', this sounded like a pleasant way to learn more about key figures.
Haynes covers sixteen figures from the ancient world in episodes, with each discussed in terms of their lives, their works, quotes and achievements, in the context of their times. And she does it by effortlessly interweaving modern references, comparing the work sometimes to Poirot, to Sherlock Holmes, to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and science fiction. And it's all there - it seems almost obvious as she shows us the forerunners of modern cultural literature.
I had heard of most of the subjects, some I knew a little about, some nothing at all. And I was pleased to hear about female writers as well. Each felt quite 'bitty' though, though this is a side-effect of being a radio broadcast and not an academic lecture series - there just isn't time to cover a subject in such depth. And it is surely up to the interested listener to research further in their own time.
Each episode is pulled together from smaller segments it seems, there is editing that could mean one longer show is edited down, and guests add their own expertise on the persons covered (comedians, academics, writers).
I enjoyed hearing the Latin words these writers gave us (having never studied a word of the language) and the beautiful pithy translations we have from them. Beautiful.
Personally, I'll be honest and say that Haynes' sense of humour and the audience (or laugh track?) didn't hit the spot for me, I found her jokes almost universally a little weak (sorry!!! Just not very funny in my opinion, though I do hate canned laughter), but I was highly impressed with the content otherwise.
It's one I would want to listen to a second time to keep the details in my head, listening to this kind of talk means there is too much to take in. Quotes and extracts are helpful to see on a page. Haynes herself is a skilled speaker, clear and easy to follow.
Excellent introduction to important figures of the ancient world. Would love to learn more.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy. -
Okay so it's not a book but a radio show for the BBC. But it is fabulous! Haynes is witty and informative and brings a quick charm analysis to life in these quick roughly 30 minute shows.
Some of favorites were Virgil, Livy, Euripides and Aristophanes and Aeschylus. But there are also great episodes on the women of the ancient world like Aspasia.
If you like ancient literature you will enjoy this very much and if you don't know anything about ancient literature this a lovely, fun quick intro. -
Listened on bbc4 and then discovered podcasts , this got me intrigued into an area I’ve never ever thought of before. I just want to know so much more now . Natalie tells it so well and with great fellows who add and bolster the characters in history , I’m off to find out more and definitely more from Natalie and the realm of podcasts .
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if goodreads is gonna let me class this as an audiobook then sure, i'll take it ahahahah
let me just start by saying, i fkn love Natalie Haynes. she's a frigging awesome lady and she's just SO funny idk how she does it. in her episode on Livy, she talks about how there was this one Spaniard who loved Livy so much that he travelled to Rome from Spain just to look at Livy. not even to talk to him. just to LOOK. i feel like this is exactly what i'd be like if i ever met Natalie 👀😅😂
i am also obsessed with the fact that this is just her nerding out onstage about how awesome certain classical figures are. i'm a big history nerd and tho i love the classics i don't rly know a wholeee lot about them, but she's made me want to go and read Cicero's speeches and Sappho's poetry (though tbh i kinda already did want to) and go and find out more about Phryne and Aristophanes and greek comedies and Lucian's the True History. safe to say, i'm a natalie stan for life 😍😍 -
There are debates on whether or not this is a book, since it’s basically performed standup comedy, which I think the author would really appreciate, seeing as how books evolved out of stand up storytelling tradition. This is a fantastic lesson! Addition to being interesting, funny, and that you can get an overview of the classics without ever even having heard of any of them before, Natalie Haynes makes a point to include women, which means creating 30 minute segments around people who have literally no information preserved about them, it’s fascinating! Huge recommend.
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Natalie Haynes is truly a delight. I am grateful for the way she condenses big important people and big important historical moments into funny, educational, fascinating bite-sized chunks. I don't feel like I'm an expert on the classics, but I could now definitely hold my own at a pretentious dinner party or make it through the $200-$800 level questions on Jeopardy.
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A funny and wonderful series looking at figures from history we know, think we know and those we don't. Really engaging and interesting.
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An excellent way to learn and laugh, what more could you want.
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Absolutely fantastic mix of funny, research and expertise.
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Absolutely great! Natalie is very funny.
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get an office job and write a novel, cool, got it
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Brilliant!
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Good podcast, both educational and fun
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She's so funny.
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Delightful, educative, makes you wanna read and it makes laugh!
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Haynes has been the best discovery of my year! I can’t wait to blaze through her works.
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Enjoyable comic take on the classics.
