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Mary Beard

Kirsty Young's castaway is the Cambridge Professor of Classics, Mary Beard.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the classicist Mary Beard.

A professor at Cambridge, she's that rare thing: a university academic who writes for the masses. Her popular books, blog, articles and reviews have led to her being called 'Britain's best-known classicist'.

But while her research is steeped in the ancient world, her commentary is all about the here and now. The classical world speaks to us, she says, and makes us see our own world differently.

Record: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - Bob Dylan
Book: Treasures of the British Museum - Marjorie Caygill
Luxury: The Elgin Marbles.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 5 Feb 2010 09:00

Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Bob Dylan

      It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

      • Bringing It All Back Home.
      • CBS.
  • Henry Purcell

    When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament) (from Dido and Aeneas)

    Soloist: Janet Baker Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra Conductor: Anthony Lewis

    • Dido and Aeneas.
    • Decca.
  • John Dowland

    Lachrimae

    Soloist: Elizabeth Kenny

    • Love Bade Me Welcome.
    • Bis.
  • Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin

    Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves

    • The Best Girl Power Album鈥ver.
    • Virgin.
  • Roy Harris & the Pump and Pluck Band

    The Man that Waters the Worker's Beer

    • Tale of Ale.
    • Free Reed.
  • Janis Joplin

    Me And Bobby McGee

    • Pearl.
    • CBS.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Aria (from Goldberg Variations)

    Soloist: Ralph Kirkpatrick

    • Goldberg Variations.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Endless Pleasure, Endless Love

    Soloist: Kathleen Battle

    • Semele.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Book Choice

    • Treasures of the British Museum - Marjorie Caygill

  • Luxury Choice

    • The Elgin Marbles

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Mary Beard

Broadcasts

  • Sun 31 Jan 2010 11:15
  • Fri 5 Feb 2010 09:00

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