In this episode, I chat with Harry Sidebottom. Harry is a Lecturer in Ancient History at Lincoln College, Oxford. He is the bestselling author of fifteen historical novels, and nineteen books in total. His debut trade non-fiction book, The Mad Emperor: Heliogabalus and the Decadence of Rome, was a Book of the Year in the Spectator, the Financial Times and BBC History. His latest book, Those Who Are About to Die: A Day in the Life of a Roman Gladiator is published in the UK on the 28th Aug, and in the US later next year.Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Highlights* Gladiators capture the public imagination but what did you want to explore the Roman mindset by focusing on them? * What does the institution of gladiatorial games tell us about Roman views on life and death?* What do you think it may surprise your readers to learn about the world of the gladiators?* What are the differences between the fighting skills of a gladiator and a legionary? * What were the strangest animals they fought or hunted in the arenas? * As a historian who has deeply studied the Roman mind, what have you learned about their core values? And how do you think those compare to our modern sensibilities?* From your research, what can the Romans teach us about resilience in the face of adversity? Links* Those Who Are About to Die (Penguin)* Goodreads Author ProfileThanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related