Translating The Iliad, exploring power in ancient Rome, and the Conservative Party's quest for power are discussed by Emily Wilson, Mary Beard, and Ben Riley-Smith. They delve into themes of violence, translation challenges, stories in politics, accessibility of Roman emperors, power dynamics within political parties, and the blame game of women in power.
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Quick takeaways
The Iliad explores the cycle of intense emotions and the limitations of human power in the face of gods and nature.
Mary Beard's book 'Emperor of Rome' showcases the fragility and ruthlessness of political power, examining the impact of personal rivalries and the influence of women in imperial dynamics.
Deep dives
The Iliad: Exploring the Rage and Mortality
The podcast episode delves into the epic poem 'The Iliad' by Homer. It focuses on the central themes such as rage, mortality, and the relationship between mortals and gods. The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War through the lens of the conflict between Greek warriors Achilles and Agamemnon. It highlights the cycle of intense emotions that lead to death, grief, and more rage. The poem also explores the limitations of human power in the face of gods and nature.
Emperor of Rome: Power and Fallibility
The podcast discusses Mary Beard's book 'Emperor of Rome', which delves into the lives of Roman emperors and their exercise of power. It explores the parallels between ancient Roman leadership and modern politics, highlighting the fragility and ruthlessness of political power. The book reveals how emperors sought to bridge the gap between mortal limitations and divine expectations, examining the influence of women in imperial power dynamics. It also explores the themes of reputation, succession, and the impact of personal rivalries within the Roman Empire.
The Right to Rule: Conservative Party Leadership
The podcast episode focuses on Ben Riley Smith's book 'The Right to Rule', which examines the leadership dynamics within the Conservative Party in the UK. It highlights the party's pursuit of power as a central goal, surpassing strict adherence to ideology. The book analyzes the ruthlessness and pragmatism of the Tories, drawing on historical context and interviews with key political figures. It showcases the ability of the party to adapt and shape-shift, as well as the internal power struggles played out through mechanisms like the 1922 committee and anonymous no-confidence letters.
Dominance and Turmoil: Brexit and Changing Leaders
The podcast episode touches on the impact of Brexit and the subsequent political turmoil in the UK. It highlights how the 13-year period has seen a rapid succession of Conservative Party leaders, setting a record-breaking pace. The dominance of Brexit as a political issue has caused seismic shifts, reshaping party dynamics and leadership strategies. The episode explores how Brexit has influenced the characters and narratives dominating UK politics during this period, resulting in fast-changing leaders and a still-unfolding political landscape.
After her translation of Homer’s The Odyssey the classicist Emily Wilson tackles his epic, The Iliad. She brings to life the battle cries between the Greeks and the Trojans, the bellicose leaders, the political manoeuvres and the deals with the gods.
Mary Beard looks at the expression of power in the ancient Roman world in her new study of Emperor of Rome. From Julius Caesar to Alexander Severus nearly two hundred years later, she explores just how much control and authority these rulers had, and the lengths they had to go to in order to cling on to power.
The Westminster journalist Ben Riley-Smith looks at how the Conservative Party has clung on to power over the past dozen years in his story, The Right to Rule. With five Prime Ministers in the last decade, this tale of political control involves betrayal, rebellion and the merciless ousting of leaders, in the bid to remain in government.
Producer: Katy Hickman
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