@@hyundai40 I used to work at a second hand bookshop. We'd recycle books if they were too damaged to sell or they came in with bugs. You'd be surprised to learn how many people get rid of their books when they find out they have a bed bug infestation. If there were bugs in the spine or larvae casings in the pages, we'd toss the books. There's times where you need to throw out books. I don't know about you but I would rather not get a bed bug infestation just because some selfish twat couldn't do away with their books properly and making their bedbugs somebody else's damn problem.
I majored in classical languages in college, focusing on Latin (though I did one Hellish year of Greek. Yikes!). We got to translate De Rerum Natura by Lucretius, which was fascinating but also confusing because all of us humanities majors had to remember how science *actually* worked so we could compare it to his explanations (which made perfect sense to us!). My favorite though was probably Ovid's Metamorphoses. He did some truly fascinating things with the text: lots of word pictures (physically putting the words for "wretched Daphne" inside the words for "bark of a tree" post transformation, for instance) that were just incredible to look at in their original language. This was so much fun, to revisit the world of translations and how nuanced and even political a translation can be depending on how it's rendered! Thank you for sharing!💜
I used to follow you on booktube years ago and I am so glad I found your channel again. I´m slowly stepping into the ancient world myself and your videos are super helpful!
The Satyricon, Medea, Lysistrata, The Twelve Caesars, and Abelard and Heloise are some of my favourite classical/medieval writings. I am also very obsessed with Catullus; that man was absurd to the funnest degrees sometimes. I'm completely opposite to you; I LOVE those dastardly Romans and their language and occasionally dabble in the Classical Greeks!
"The Library of Greek Mythology" is so good! I remember when I first started really getting into learning about Greek mythology it was so useful since it covers so many!
I'm a Classicist--a Classical Philologist specifically! I have taught for about 15 years, and I love meeting a new Classicist! I love your Loeb collection, especially.
I absolutely love bookshelf tours and this one was so special because it's your area of expertise! I like how you have the shelf organized - it looks very neat. The art on some of those is just so lovely! I have a lot of Penguin Black classics like those, but only 1 Oxford edition. I recently have been thinking a lot about translations, first when I was trying to replace my copy of The Odyssey, when I couldn't find the edition I had before from high school / undergrad. I found a site that had several versions' first sentences compared, and I recognized the translation that I'd read, and was able to get a different edition by the same translator, as I found his very elegant. Maybe I'll pick up a copy of the Wilson translation too and read them side by side. :) I did want to try that one as it was new and by a woman. I've also been giving it more thought when reading Russian literature and now I'm reading 2 versions of Anna Karenina side by side. I found I really have a preference for one over the other version... although she seems to be out of favor lately, Constance Garnett is my favorite and I've read several other works translated by her. The good thing about her is that her work is in the public domain so you can read it free on the Gutenberg Project website to check it out. Anyway enough rambling about translations, thank you again for such a thoughtful and detailed tour, for all your recommendations, and for your enthusiasm. You make me want to go back to school even though I'm in my 40s in and work in the science / medical field!
As someone who is an ancient Mediterranean world linguist - soon to hopefully do a PhD comparing Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Hebrew literature, and who's done 9 years of Latin, 4 of Ancient Egyptian and a couple of years of Ancient Greek, I loved this video. Even if you don't like the Aeneid! 😅 My favourite texts are the Ancient Egyptian wisdom texts (on which I'm working - I even have a sentence from one of those texts tattooed on my left arm). They're so beautiful and clearly the origin of so many wisdom and philosophy thoughts from later cultures.
Ooh thank you I’d actually love to read more Egyptian texts so I’ll look these up and maybe I can expand my knowledge a bit more ☺️. Your PhD sounds fascinating!
@@JeansThoughts Some of the best known Egyptian wisdom texts have influenced the writing of the Old Testament/the Torah, I'm hoping to demonstrate clearly to what extent and highlight the most obvious occurrences. It is indeed fascinating! If you want a comprehensive reading of Ancient Egyptian texts with some (light) scholarly analysis, I'd advise you to grab Myriam Lichtheim's "Ancient Egyptian Literature" in three volumes which is still one of the best collections in English of the corpus. Given that we're starting to prove for certain that Plato had some early and sustained contact with Egyptian wisdom scholars in his time, and that he most certainly was influenced by it, you might find some relevant additions to your knowledge of Ancient Greek thought through this new reading! 😀 ❤ ❤ ❤
Jean, thank you so much more taking time to do this tour. I had so much fun watching it and hearing you bubble about Ancient works - as it always so wonderful to hear you so passionate
As soon as I saw the title I had a question but you answered it in the video about which translation of the Iliad and Odyssey to read. It's a recent goal of mine to go back and reread the most memorable books from high school and college. I wrote down a couple of other works that sounded interesting. I am looking forward to seeing how you set up the rest of your books.
I absolutely love your collection of ancient literature! 😍 I hope my own collection grows to be something like yours (though of course highlighting my personal favorites). I actually found your channel while I was pursuing my undergrad degree of Classics (and archaeology) in Glasgow, and you totally helped me in increasing my enjoyment of the topic!
This was so nostalgic for me!!! I studied Philosophy as an Undergrad so a lot of the Plato and Aristotle brought back memories! Have you ever read the work of Heraclitus? We studied him for a module and I remember having sooo many sticky tabs in my copy!! I never covered The Nature of Things though, which sounds fascinating - might have to pick myself up a copy of that! I hope you’re well Jean, stay safe! 💕
Jean, I loved this so much! Hearing your opinions and comments on works I'm familiar with was so fun (I'm an Iliad girl myself lmao), and I adored how you painted a picture of who your dad was just by talking about his reading habits and favourite topics. He sounds great and you can see his habits in you, it made me think of the video you made about Armchair Books
Thank you, that was fun. I relate to keeping your Dad's books, I have all my parent's books. I can't let them go. I have a beautiful copy of Sapho and Marcus Aurelius, but they are different publishers then yours. I studied archeology and have a deep love ancient history. I adore Greek mythology and I have several books that are older and I love them. I also love ancient Egypt,
Jean...the Emily Wilson edition of The Odyssey upsets me so much by disrupting the line 😫😫😫 haha You've inspired me to put all of my classics books together as they are dispersed around my house as I studied Classics as well. I did a Roman literature concentration and Juvenal is one of my faves ☺️
The Loebs are wonderful, in that you can read the English translation, and then when you encounter a rather awkward turn of phrase go to the Greek source and make your own determinations. Lovely library!
I’ve not read a single piece of ancient literature but every time I see you talk about it,8 always get really excited and want to get stuck in. I have no idea where to start though or if I even have the ability to understand it. I struggle with Shakespeare badly enough!
Honestly something like Daphnis and Chloe is so accessible - it's a fun comedy about two young people set on an island. But more than that because these books are translated it's quite different from Shakespeare. That's always in old English right, but if you get an up to date modern translation like Emily Wilson's of the Odyssey it should be smoother reading. Still different but modern editions make a difference.
I've seen this video before, and I'm aware this is an older video and you may not see this, but I just wanted to say having rewatched it that you have inspired me to pick up my studies again after a period of demotivation, so thank you Jean! X
This video was just a joy to watch! I'm reading the greek classics on my own & am always stuck on which books/version to get. This was a huge help so thank you! & congrats on your children's book!
Gosh I remember I had to do a presentation on Julius Caesar for history in high school based on Suetonius, it was cool and yes he does read in a really approachable, gossip column way 🤣😂 I have the Theogony/Works and days, Library by Pseudo-Apollodorus, and the Constellation myths in the exact same editions you too, I quite liked them!!
I don’t know much at all about ancient literature, but I was involved in an amateur production of Lysistrata a few years ago. That was quite a unique experience 🙂
If you could please make a video on self learning Greek language. That would be as helpful as this video. You are doing a great job by educating us about the books, editions and fields that are so interesting and beautiful. Thank you.
Those Guild Publishing books are facsimile reprints of Penguin Classics editions. They look and feel kinda cheap, with that faux leather spine and quite coarse grade of paper but actually, they're pretty sturdy books and the pages are still clean and bright after thirty years. I can see why a Hellenist might dismiss the Augustan History but to me it's one of the most fascinating works from the ancient world, in part because of the mystery surrounding its authorship and purpose. The more you learn about this book, the weirder it gets.
I found this so interesting. I’m a German law student so I’ve students some of Roman law texts so I’m curious as to the relation with Greek law of the time.
All of the Greek law I study predates the Roman Empire but I’ve read a few interesting articles on topics like rape and marriage in Ancient Rome as well. I know Cicero is the go to but I’m woefully under read there 😅
@@JeansThoughts Oh sorry of course, much earlier, haha. At uni, we mainly focus on Justinian's Codex as it would be most influential to canon law today. But then with Greek law you say you're researching legal rethoric, because I guess there wasn't a body of canon law until Justinian. Must be a pretty difficult but also fascinating research, especially when looking at the role of women etc.
I've owned a very handsome edition of Suetonius for years which I have never read. Maybe I'll take a look at it sometime soon. - I can't wait to read your book "The Greek Myths"! I pre-ordered a copy from Bookshop.org and should hopefully be receiving it later this week. :-)
First up, your outfit is ADORABLE. Woooow Jean you have dated some pricks. Who puts peoples things in the bin?! So interesting to hear that Socrates never actually wrote anything! I really really loved this video, especially the old editions towards the end! 1908!! 😱
omg my loeb collection is the exact opposite of yours lmao it's all red and like 1 or 2 green but also insect similes sound so interesting and I'd love to see more about that! I love those weirdly specific classics interests. I have a particular love of the role of chickens in Roman history but I haven't yet found an excuse to write more on it because I chose to specialize in Latin lmao (Also I VERY much relate to being traumatized by the film version of satyricon. there is not enough brain bleach in the world for that lmao); lastly I'm SO excited for Emily Wilson's Iliad when she finishes it!
Oh I feel you there with translations. One copy of Dante's Inferno opened up with Midway through the journey of my life (Not our life). Translation put down immediately and have a mental conniption fit!
What were your Euripides editions? I have been trying to buy an edition that includes Orestes but I ended up buying the wrong book. Thank you for fueling my classics addiction, I love love your channel ❤️❤️
My, my, what a collection. Could you recommend where to start for someone who is completely new to ancient literature and related works? Not necessarily the most accessible but the most referenced works. Thank you!
I think the odyssey is where you wanna go - it’s referenced by so many modern and medieval works (and tv and film) it’s probably THE most popular book and it is good.
This was so interesting! I know very little about ancient history (I'm more of a 16th century girl), but I have a slight obsession with Italy so Ancient Rome in particular is something I'd like to learn more about. :) I'd love to know what drew you to the 4th century BC in particular?
Jessticulates if you want to get into Ancient Rome I’d really recommend looking at Mary Beard’s stuff: she’s got awesome documentaries that you can watch on BBC iPlayer and she’s got loads of great books, SPQR is a wonderful overview.
Loved your collection I’ve just found your channel and wondered if you’d read Nikita gill’a poetry collection “great goddesses” about the Greek goddesses? I would really recommend it. I’m a Shakespeare nerd I wish that they would update classic covers to make them more Aesthetic so more people would be inspired to read them
Love this video! I've bought Emily Wilson's Odyssey translation but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Are you aware she is working on a translation of the Iliad? I have looked at a number of universities in the U.K. and it seems their classics programs are very specialized. You either focus on Greek or Latin or archaeology. In the U.S. the programs seem to focus equally on both languages. I'm curious why there wouldn't be a broader focus in the U.K., which might be more helpful in securing an academic position. Btw, I'm currently taking the Cambridge Latin Course. I'm thinking of taking a 3 quarter sequence this fall in Homeric Greek online from the University of Chicago adult education program. Really enjoy your videos. Take care.
I’m not aware that having done a broader undergrad would help you eventually get a position to be honest. Most staffing decisions are made on the basis of your published research, for better or worse, which means the more specialised the better. However my undergrad at Edinburgh covered a huge range including Rome and Greece, Archaeology, Art, literature, philosophy and history ☺️. Languages are optional at lots of unis as well - I didn’t study them until my masters.
Very interesting collection! My ancient literature collection is quite different in it mostly contains philosophy and history books. A few exceptions include Homer's and Virgil's epics and some poetry. Also, you probably already know it, but since you're into Epicureanism, I'd recommend Epicurus's Letter to Menoeceus. He is far from being as good a writer as Lucretius, but it's still a nice, short read :)
So glad to find another Lucretius lover ahhhh! Mine isn't in couplets but is also a beautiful translation (by Latham), kinda makes me want to learn Latin so I can fully appreciate Lucretius' abilities (but also I will never learn Latin lol). Constantly impressed by the Epicurean atomic theory, like it is so often right and even if its not scientifically precise you can see how they pieced it together. Legend gang.
This video provides the perfect background for me to read "The Satyricon" by Petronius. 😄 I have the old Penguin Classics edition as well, and I also struggle with the pronunciation of Seneca's text. 😆
I have that Lucretius translation (though haven't read yet), and also the older 1920s W.E. Leonard version which is also in verse but which does quite some violence to the English language (fairly sure some of the contractions he uses don't actually really exist). I've got the previous Penguin edition from the 50s as well from the library, so going to read that soon. I don't like Virgil much either. All his works are transparent knockoffs of Greek models (Theocritus, Hesiod and Homer) that don't really add much to them. However, I do like John Dryden's translation of the Aeneid, as an English poem it's fantastic. I totally understand why prose renderings of ancient Greek/Roman poems are appealing (my first Iliad and Aeneid were prose versions, so is that other Penguin edition of Lucretius I just mentioned), and I know that translating them as verse tends to mean sacrificing literalness, especially if you're using a strict verse form, but I still think verse translations are the way to go cos at least they feel like the original. And I have that edition of Aristotle, but it's so big and hard to hold and the print so small I don't know if/when I'll ever be able to read it. Think I may need to reinvest in the Kindle edition.
I’m sorry for your lost. Have you read some books about the topic lost or what books helped you to get over the death of father? I don’t want to be rude. I just would love to know ☺️☀️
Have you read any Statius? I have only read the Achilleid by him so far - very short latin epic poem mainly about Achilles' time disguised as a girl (an interesting look at gender/expectations of 'manhood' etc.)
The Libation Bearers is my favourite! And Euripedes' Medea. Medea did nothing wrong and this is the hill I will die on. Except I won't die, because I'll get chariotted away.
@@JeansThoughts I study theatre; mostly Shakespeare but I wrote a final paper last term tracing the Medea figure/influence through contemporary drama, focusing mainly on Suzan-Lori Parks (who I HIGHLY recommend seeing as you are specialized in the treatment of women. I know a playwright from the 1990s isn't going to be quoted in your PhD but it's "fun". Highly tragic, but beautiful).
“Don’t date anyone who would put a book in the bin” this is a piece of wisdom I never knew I needed🖤
Literally would recycle books daily where I used to work lol.
@@imnotgivingmynametou I think it's better to donate them or try to find them a new home than to put them straight to the bin.
@@hyundai40 I used to work at a second hand bookshop. We'd recycle books if they were too damaged to sell or they came in with bugs. You'd be surprised to learn how many people get rid of their books when they find out they have a bed bug infestation. If there were bugs in the spine or larvae casings in the pages, we'd toss the books.
There's times where you need to throw out books. I don't know about you but I would rather not get a bed bug infestation just because some selfish twat couldn't do away with their books properly and making their bedbugs somebody else's damn problem.
Give them away instead...
I majored in classical languages in college, focusing on Latin (though I did one Hellish year of Greek. Yikes!). We got to translate De Rerum Natura by Lucretius, which was fascinating but also confusing because all of us humanities majors had to remember how science *actually* worked so we could compare it to his explanations (which made perfect sense to us!). My favorite though was probably Ovid's Metamorphoses. He did some truly fascinating things with the text: lots of word pictures (physically putting the words for "wretched Daphne" inside the words for "bark of a tree" post transformation, for instance) that were just incredible to look at in their original language. This was so much fun, to revisit the world of translations and how nuanced and even political a translation can be depending on how it's rendered! Thank you for sharing!💜
What a treat! I love hearing about people's favourite topics so this was such a good insight into yours.
I used to follow you on booktube years ago and I am so glad I found your channel again. I´m slowly stepping into the ancient world myself and your videos are super helpful!
The Satyricon, Medea, Lysistrata, The Twelve Caesars, and Abelard and Heloise are some of my favourite classical/medieval writings. I am also very obsessed with Catullus; that man was absurd to the funnest degrees sometimes. I'm completely opposite to you; I LOVE those dastardly Romans and their language and occasionally dabble in the Classical Greeks!
Excellent overview. Your recommendations for readers new to Greek and Latin literature were very helpful. Sorry to hear about the binned book!
I’m so glad to hear that!
I could listen to you all day speaking about ancient literature!!
"The Library of Greek Mythology" is so good! I remember when I first started really getting into learning about Greek mythology it was so useful since it covers so many!
Amazing! Please introduce us to your other shelves as well!
the Oxford classics are some of my favourites 😍
I'm a Classicist--a Classical Philologist specifically! I have taught for about 15 years, and I love meeting a new Classicist! I love your Loeb collection, especially.
😍 this is what I've been dreaming of!! Love when you talk about ancient/classical lit 😊 I will be rewatching this so many times 💖 thank you, Jean
I absolutely love bookshelf tours and this one was so special because it's your area of expertise! I like how you have the shelf organized - it looks very neat. The art on some of those is just so lovely! I have a lot of Penguin Black classics like those, but only 1 Oxford edition. I recently have been thinking a lot about translations, first when I was trying to replace my copy of The Odyssey, when I couldn't find the edition I had before from high school / undergrad. I found a site that had several versions' first sentences compared, and I recognized the translation that I'd read, and was able to get a different edition by the same translator, as I found his very elegant. Maybe I'll pick up a copy of the Wilson translation too and read them side by side. :) I did want to try that one as it was new and by a woman.
I've also been giving it more thought when reading Russian literature and now I'm reading 2 versions of Anna Karenina side by side. I found I really have a preference for one over the other version... although she seems to be out of favor lately, Constance Garnett is my favorite and I've read several other works translated by her. The good thing about her is that her work is in the public domain so you can read it free on the Gutenberg Project website to check it out.
Anyway enough rambling about translations, thank you again for such a thoughtful and detailed tour, for all your recommendations, and for your enthusiasm. You make me want to go back to school even though I'm in my 40s in and work in the science / medical field!
I'm in love with the Oxford World Classics series!
As someone who is an ancient Mediterranean world linguist - soon to hopefully do a PhD comparing Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Hebrew literature, and who's done 9 years of Latin, 4 of Ancient Egyptian and a couple of years of Ancient Greek, I loved this video. Even if you don't like the Aeneid! 😅
My favourite texts are the Ancient Egyptian wisdom texts (on which I'm working - I even have a sentence from one of those texts tattooed on my left arm). They're so beautiful and clearly the origin of so many wisdom and philosophy thoughts from later cultures.
Ooh thank you I’d actually love to read more Egyptian texts so I’ll look these up and maybe I can expand my knowledge a bit more ☺️. Your PhD sounds fascinating!
@@JeansThoughts Some of the best known Egyptian wisdom texts have influenced the writing of the Old Testament/the Torah, I'm hoping to demonstrate clearly to what extent and highlight the most obvious occurrences. It is indeed fascinating!
If you want a comprehensive reading of Ancient Egyptian texts with some (light) scholarly analysis, I'd advise you to grab Myriam Lichtheim's "Ancient Egyptian Literature" in three volumes which is still one of the best collections in English of the corpus.
Given that we're starting to prove for certain that Plato had some early and sustained contact with Egyptian wisdom scholars in his time, and that he most certainly was influenced by it, you might find some relevant additions to your knowledge of Ancient Greek thought through this new reading! 😀 ❤ ❤ ❤
Alex Poulpe wow this sounds really interesting, I’m gonna go pick this up- as an aspiring linguist and archaeologist this is right up my street.
Jean, thank you so much more taking time to do this tour. I had so much fun watching it and hearing you bubble about Ancient works - as it always so wonderful to hear you so passionate
As soon as I saw the title I had a question but you answered it in the video about which translation of the Iliad and Odyssey to read. It's a recent goal of mine to go back and reread the most memorable books from high school and college. I wrote down a couple of other works that sounded interesting. I am looking forward to seeing how you set up the rest of your books.
I absolutely love your collection of ancient literature! 😍 I hope my own collection grows to be something like yours (though of course highlighting my personal favorites). I actually found your channel while I was pursuing my undergrad degree of Classics (and archaeology) in Glasgow, and you totally helped me in increasing my enjoyment of the topic!
I love when you do videos on ancient literature
Brilliant Video! I am really sorry about your Father. I lost my father in 2017 and i was devastated from it. Blessings from Ellas/Greece.
This was so nostalgic for me!!! I studied Philosophy as an Undergrad so a lot of the Plato and Aristotle brought back memories! Have you ever read the work of Heraclitus? We studied him for a module and I remember having sooo many sticky tabs in my copy!! I never covered The Nature of Things though, which sounds fascinating - might have to pick myself up a copy of that! I hope you’re well Jean, stay safe! 💕
This video makes me want to do a PhD in Ancient Literature and I've never even studied it!
Aha join us!!!
@@JeansThoughts So tempting! But if you ever decide to translate a Greek play I offer myself up to direct it.
It all seems to go over my head. I have tried it it didn't go in. I did Literature with the OU but only touched on the Greeks and Romans.
Jean, I loved this so much! Hearing your opinions and comments on works I'm familiar with was so fun (I'm an Iliad girl myself lmao), and I adored how you painted a picture of who your dad was just by talking about his reading habits and favourite topics. He sounds great and you can see his habits in you, it made me think of the video you made about Armchair Books
So pleased you’ve made this video! I love reading classical literature and happy to get some recommendations of translations 📓
this video is exactly what i needed... nothing beats classical literature
My favorite student and scholar. I study Middle eastern antiquity.
The Oxford editions are probably my favorite, then Penguin. Great vid!
You're videos always remind me how much I love classical literature
Thank you, that was fun. I relate to keeping your Dad's books, I have all my parent's books. I can't let them go. I have a beautiful copy of Sapho and Marcus Aurelius, but they are different publishers then yours. I studied archeology and have a deep love ancient history. I adore Greek mythology and I have several books that are older and I love them. I also love ancient Egypt,
I'm definitely the same with you on sorting things by edition. It just makes a lot of sense to me haha!
Jean...the Emily Wilson edition of The Odyssey upsets me so much by disrupting the line 😫😫😫 haha
You've inspired me to put all of my classics books together as they are dispersed around my house as I studied Classics as well. I did a Roman literature concentration and Juvenal is one of my faves ☺️
'Don't date anyone who would put a book in a bin' life quote 👌🏻
Put it on a T-shirt aha
loved this video!! might be my favourite bookshelf tour on youtube, love how chatty it was!
The Loebs are wonderful, in that you can read the English translation, and then when you encounter a rather awkward turn of phrase go to the Greek source and make your own determinations. Lovely library!
I’ve not read a single piece of ancient literature but every time I see you talk about it,8 always get really excited and want to get stuck in. I have no idea where to start though or if I even have the ability to understand it. I struggle with Shakespeare badly enough!
Honestly something like Daphnis and Chloe is so accessible - it's a fun comedy about two young people set on an island. But more than that because these books are translated it's quite different from Shakespeare. That's always in old English right, but if you get an up to date modern translation like Emily Wilson's of the Odyssey it should be smoother reading. Still different but modern editions make a difference.
Jean Bookishthoughts oh wow I didn’t realise that! Ok, new resolution for the next half of the year! Thanks :)
I've seen this video before, and I'm aware this is an older video and you may not see this, but I just wanted to say having rewatched it that you have inspired me to pick up my studies again after a period of demotivation, so thank you Jean! X
This video was just a joy to watch! I'm reading the greek classics on my own & am always stuck on which books/version to get. This was a huge help so thank you! & congrats on your children's book!
So sorry for your loss of Daphnis and Chloe copy! Haha. Thank you for this video, I needed such a thorough overview of classics.
Thank you! Means a lot ;)
I absolutely love your content, thanks for keeping my reading drive alive🥰
You are so welcome
Very nice. Thanks.
This is incredible! Thank you
No problem glad you enjoyed it!
@@JeansThoughts I'm very excited to look into the translation of The Odyssey written by a woman! It has moved to the top of my "to read" list.
@@JeansThoughts pleas recommend me best nonfiction books
Please can you make video about what being an ancient historian entails?xx
I mean that’s 100% going to be different for everyone 😅
Suetonius is someone I ALWAYS recommend to people! I always sell it to people as "hot gossip tabloids about Roman emperors"
you should do a tour of your non fiction about classics - like favourite essay collections/explanations etc (like searching for sappho etc)
I read Longus’ Daphnis and Chloe because of you Jean... my first foray into classical lit that I really enjoyed! Did you learn Greek in school or uni?
Uni ☺️ my school was a pretty standard state comprehensive so no classical education in history or languages :(
Gosh I remember I had to do a presentation on Julius Caesar for history in high school based on Suetonius, it was cool and yes he does read in a really approachable, gossip column way 🤣😂
I have the Theogony/Works and days, Library by Pseudo-Apollodorus, and the Constellation myths in the exact same editions you too, I quite liked them!!
I don’t know much at all about ancient literature, but I was involved in an amateur production of Lysistrata a few years ago. That was quite a unique experience 🙂
Ooh that must have been fun aha
omg that sounds amazing Lysistrata SLAPS
I always check out Loeb editions from my school library. Some day I hope to read Latin. I have done two semesters.
If you could please make a video on self learning Greek language. That would be as helpful as this video. You are doing a great job by educating us about the books, editions and fields that are so interesting and beautiful. Thank you.
Those Guild Publishing books are facsimile reprints of Penguin Classics editions. They look and feel kinda cheap, with that faux leather spine and quite coarse grade of paper but actually, they're pretty sturdy books and the pages are still clean and bright after thirty years.
I can see why a Hellenist might dismiss the Augustan History but to me it's one of the most fascinating works from the ancient world, in part because of the mystery surrounding its authorship and purpose. The more you learn about this book, the weirder it gets.
I found this so interesting. I’m a German law student so I’ve students some of Roman law texts so I’m curious as to the relation with Greek law of the time.
All of the Greek law I study predates the Roman Empire but I’ve read a few interesting articles on topics like rape and marriage in Ancient Rome as well. I know Cicero is the go to but I’m woefully under read there 😅
@@JeansThoughts Oh sorry of course, much earlier, haha. At uni, we mainly focus on Justinian's Codex as it would be most influential to canon law today. But then with Greek law you say you're researching legal rethoric, because I guess there wasn't a body of canon law until Justinian.
Must be a pretty difficult but also fascinating research, especially when looking at the role of women etc.
I've owned a very handsome edition of Suetonius for years which I have never read. Maybe I'll take a look at it sometime soon. - I can't wait to read your book "The Greek Myths"! I pre-ordered a copy from Bookshop.org and should hopefully be receiving it later this week. :-)
First up, your outfit is ADORABLE.
Woooow Jean you have dated some pricks. Who puts peoples things in the bin?!
So interesting to hear that Socrates never actually wrote anything!
I really really loved this video, especially the old editions towards the end! 1908!! 😱
I have 100% made some terrible dating decisions in the past 🤣 thank god for therapy.
You are amazing. I couldn't get into the Greeks or Romans. I did try as The Iliad and The Odyssey were part of my OU Course.
Fordham ancient history website is good for ancient primary sources. They also do medieval primary sources. Avalon do medieval law texts.
omg my loeb collection is the exact opposite of yours lmao it's all red and like 1 or 2 green but also insect similes sound so interesting and I'd love to see more about that! I love those weirdly specific classics interests. I have a particular love of the role of chickens in Roman history but I haven't yet found an excuse to write more on it because I chose to specialize in Latin lmao (Also I VERY much relate to being traumatized by the film version of satyricon. there is not enough brain bleach in the world for that lmao); lastly I'm SO excited for Emily Wilson's Iliad when she finishes it!
Oh I feel you there with translations. One copy of Dante's Inferno opened up with Midway through the journey of my life (Not our life). Translation put down immediately and have a mental conniption fit!
What were your Euripides editions? I have been trying to buy an edition that includes Orestes but I ended up buying the wrong book. Thank you for fueling my classics addiction, I love love your channel ❤️❤️
My, my, what a collection. Could you recommend where to start for someone who is completely new to ancient literature and related works? Not necessarily the most accessible but the most referenced works. Thank you!
I think the odyssey is where you wanna go - it’s referenced by so many modern and medieval works (and tv and film) it’s probably THE most popular book and it is good.
Jean Bookishthoughts Thank you!!
This was so interesting! I know very little about ancient history (I'm more of a 16th century girl), but I have a slight obsession with Italy so Ancient Rome in particular is something I'd like to learn more about. :) I'd love to know what drew you to the 4th century BC in particular?
Jessticulates if you want to get into Ancient Rome I’d really recommend looking at Mary Beard’s stuff: she’s got awesome documentaries that you can watch on BBC iPlayer and she’s got loads of great books, SPQR is a wonderful overview.
Excellent video
Thank you :D
@@JeansThoughts mam, pleas help me, which is the best non fiction books to improve English language
Your phd sounds amazing!
This made me miss studying Latin. What a lovely collection!
Loved your collection I’ve just found your channel and wondered if you’d read Nikita gill’a poetry collection “great goddesses” about the Greek goddesses? I would really recommend it. I’m a Shakespeare nerd I wish that they would update classic covers to make them more
Aesthetic so more people would be inspired to read them
Love this video! I've bought Emily Wilson's Odyssey translation but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Are you aware she is working on a translation of the Iliad? I have looked at a number of universities in the U.K. and it seems their classics programs are very specialized. You either focus on Greek or Latin or archaeology. In the U.S. the programs seem to focus equally on both languages. I'm curious why there wouldn't be a broader focus in the U.K., which might be more helpful in securing an academic position.
Btw, I'm currently taking the Cambridge Latin Course. I'm thinking of taking a 3 quarter sequence this fall in Homeric Greek online from the University of Chicago adult education program.
Really enjoy your videos. Take care.
I’m not aware that having done a broader undergrad would help you eventually get a position to be honest. Most staffing decisions are made on the basis of your published research, for better or worse, which means the more specialised the better. However my undergrad at Edinburgh covered a huge range including Rome and Greece, Archaeology, Art, literature, philosophy and history ☺️. Languages are optional at lots of unis as well - I didn’t study them until my masters.
Very interesting collection! My ancient literature collection is quite different in it mostly contains philosophy and history books. A few exceptions include Homer's and Virgil's epics and some poetry.
Also, you probably already know it, but since you're into Epicureanism, I'd recommend Epicurus's Letter to Menoeceus. He is far from being as good a writer as Lucretius, but it's still a nice, short read :)
waaaah. where can i watch or listen to your podcasts? huhu. ilove history ❤️
So glad to find another Lucretius lover ahhhh! Mine isn't in couplets but is also a beautiful translation (by Latham), kinda makes me want to learn Latin so I can fully appreciate Lucretius' abilities (but also I will never learn Latin lol). Constantly impressed by the Epicurean atomic theory, like it is so often right and even if its not scientifically precise you can see how they pieced it together. Legend gang.
Goodstuff thanks its all Greek to me hahah books eh how we can read the Thoughts & Thinking through the ages now that is amazing.
I always loved translating the Ars Amatoria with my students. :D So funny.
THANK YOU FOR THIS.
They PUT it IN the BIN?!
This video provides the perfect background for me to read "The Satyricon" by Petronius. 😄 I have the old Penguin Classics edition as well, and I also struggle with the pronunciation of Seneca's text. 😆
Woohoo!
Have you ever seen the ballet of Daphnis and Chloe?
I’ve been throughly enjoying Natalie Haynes’ #ovidnotcovid series throughout lockdown 😊
The score of it is so beautiful
This is so relaxing to watch and your little updo and outfit look so cute ❤️
Aha channelling my inner children’s tv presenter
@@JeansThoughts
😂
Is The Odyssey translated by Emily in prose or verse?
Can’t stop buying used loebs!!!
such a great video! :D love your advice on dating hahaha
Simple and to the point aha
I have that Lucretius translation (though haven't read yet), and also the older 1920s W.E. Leonard version which is also in verse but which does quite some violence to the English language (fairly sure some of the contractions he uses don't actually really exist). I've got the previous Penguin edition from the 50s as well from the library, so going to read that soon.
I don't like Virgil much either. All his works are transparent knockoffs of Greek models (Theocritus, Hesiod and Homer) that don't really add much to them. However, I do like John Dryden's translation of the Aeneid, as an English poem it's fantastic. I totally understand why prose renderings of ancient Greek/Roman poems are appealing (my first Iliad and Aeneid were prose versions, so is that other Penguin edition of Lucretius I just mentioned), and I know that translating them as verse tends to mean sacrificing literalness, especially if you're using a strict verse form, but I still think verse translations are the way to go cos at least they feel like the original.
And I have that edition of Aristotle, but it's so big and hard to hold and the print so small I don't know if/when I'll ever be able to read it. Think I may need to reinvest in the Kindle edition.
I have to ask... have you read the Stephen fry books "Heroes" and "Mythos" and what did you think?
I’m sorry for your lost. Have you read some books about the topic lost or what books helped you to get over the death of father? I don’t want to be rude. I just would love to know ☺️☀️
Have you read any Statius? I have only read the Achilleid by him so far - very short latin epic poem mainly about Achilles' time disguised as a girl (an interesting look at gender/expectations of 'manhood' etc.)
The Libation Bearers is my favourite! And Euripedes' Medea. Medea did nothing wrong and this is the hill I will die on. Except I won't die, because I'll get chariotted away.
I’m there with you aha
@@JeansThoughts I study theatre; mostly Shakespeare but I wrote a final paper last term tracing the Medea figure/influence through contemporary drama, focusing mainly on Suzan-Lori Parks (who I HIGHLY recommend seeing as you are specialized in the treatment of women. I know a playwright from the 1990s isn't going to be quoted in your PhD but it's "fun". Highly tragic, but beautiful).
When you think of the term 'ancient historian' do you sometimes visualize yourself as a very very old woman - who is a historian?
Tbh an old man... because that's the diversity we've had for centuries :S
@@JeansThoughts Oh no!
Little Bettany Hughes!
The ancient Greek origins of the Cinderella story en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodopis
Egyptian Poem👍
At 15:04 my cat agree with you
Have you or will you learn to speak Greek or Latin?
I think I mentioned in the video but I can read Ancient Greek ☺️ not latin though and probably never will aha
ME ENCANTÓ TU VIDEO! yo hice un bookshelf tour en mi canal. Si alguien quiere ir a verlo, significaría mucho para mí 💕 SALUDOS DESDE RD!