My seduction into Classics came in
the first year of university in Canada
when
I took a Classical Literature course
as an option. I was instantly hooked!
Although
both my undergraduate and masters degrees
are in Greek, and specifically in tragedy,
I was enticed into Roman History in the
first year of my PhD by Professor A.A.
Barrett when he came into our Suetonius
class one day and threw down a stack
of photos; we then spent an hour trying
to
decide which were of Caligula, given
our knowledge of the sources (for the
answers,
see his book on Caligula). I never looked
back, though I do get wistful whenever
I read Agamemnon.
My research interests
are varied, but remain rooted in
Roman imperial history.
I am currently at work on a book
on the praetorian guard, in particular,
their
depiction in the ancient sources.
My
other love is the Severans, especially
the maligned Caracalla. I also dabble
in archaeology, having worked in
both Carthage and Greece; a book on the
rediscovery of Carthage is imminent.
Recently I have
become fascinated with espionage
in
antiquity, though I also am working
on Roman imperial
women – not that the two are unconnected! – the
outcome of these interests will be new
courses in the not too distant future.
The only problem, of course, is finding
time to fit all this in, and still enjoy
life in Edinburgh – a fabulous
city to explore!
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