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We're having rather a social time for a couple with a young baby (so much so that I have pretty much managed to forget I have a child at all - it's glorious) and tonight we went into town for the launch of Mary Beard's new book SPQR, which I assume is the history of my local Shepherd's Bush football team, but I've read the first chapter and it seems to be taking the long way round in getting to the story, concentrating on the antics of some Italians in 63BC for the first chapter. I am sure it all links in somewhere. Maybe Cicero used the heads of the rebels he executed without trial as footballs and so on.
But I've checked the index and my legendary commentaries of QPR vs Not QPR based on the sound the crowd makes do not even warrant a mention. Do your research Beard! Do your research.
It was a nice do, though Mary seemed a bit frazzled and not surprisingly as she's written a massive book and been recording another TV series. She's a brilliant woman and my mild concern at her tiredness was overcome by my delight at another massive book to read and the promise of more Pompeii based telly. There was a Roman centurion on hand to welcome us, which can't have come cheap what with the price of time travel these days. My wife got her photo taken with him, but I was too cool to do the same. It was like Bryan Cranston all over again. The centurion seemed to recognise me, which suggests that I must travel back in time at some point and become a big comedy hit in ancient Rome. This is great news at it means I can live my life up to the point I travel backwards as if I am immortal, safe in the knowledge that nothing will kill me.
It was a fun gathering of massive nerds and spoddy academics. These are my people, even though obviously I am the coolest one.
And even though I've just read the first 50 pages I can highly recommend the book: it's gripping and Beard perfectly straddles the worlds of academia and readable prose. It's friendly and informal without being cloying and I've already learned loads about the place that I would like to live if I could go anywhere in history (for a bit). Why knowledge of the history of Rome is a lot shakier than it should be, but I think this book is going to sort this out (for 3 months and then I will have forgotten everything in it). It's amazing that enough sources have survived for over 2000 years, thanks to being copied over and over again and occasionally being discovered at archaeological digs. Does a likely library in Pompeii hold loads more contemporary and lost plays and speeches and letters? That would be exciting. Or maybe there's a pot in a cave somewhere. Or I can pick up some fresh copies when I go in the time machine (but what if I never return?).
In the meantime Mary Beard will have to take the place of a time machine. I just hope she doesn't complain when I try to fill her Mr Fusion unit with garbage.
And there's bad news about next week's RHLSTP, Grayson Perry has had to drop out due to work commitments, but some good news in that he will do a podcast next year instead and even better news in that Eddie Izzard will be my guest instead. This wasn't a deliberate attempt for a cross dressing theme, I just met him at Steve Coogan's party and we realised after a couple of years of trying to match diaries that he was free next Sunday. Hooray. There are still some tickets so book now and add your name to the list if it's seemingly sold out as there are some tickets with agencies and also some Grayson Perry fans may return theirs.
And Happy Now? is on in Brighton on Friday - still some tickets, but it's looking like it should sell otu.
And on Havant on Saturday, where it has sold out. Details of these and all other Happy Now? gigs are here.
Unusually gigs seem to be selling out so far, so might be worth booking ahead for 2016!
