In this engaging conversation, Ann Wroe, a seasoned author and the obituaries editor of The Economist, dives deep into her biography of Pontius Pilate. She discusses the power and morality dilemmas Pilate faced, and how they resonate with today’s leadership challenges. Wroe explores the art of writing obituaries, emphasizing life narratives over death. The dialogue also weaves in themes of Stoicism, revealing how ancient philosophies can guide contemporary understanding of authority and ethics.
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Life and Death
Ryan Holiday shares a story about his son playing with a book of obituaries.
This juxtaposition of youth and death made him reflect on life's journey.
insights INSIGHT
Obituaries Celebrate Life
Writing obituaries focuses on a person's life and accomplishments, not their death.
Ann Wroe views death as another stage of life, making obituaries a celebration of life.
insights INSIGHT
Unsung Heroes
Ann Wroe prefers writing obituaries for lesser-known individuals with unique stories.
She finds the challenge of saying something new about famous people less appealing.
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In this biography, Ann Wroe reconstructs the life of Pontius Pilate, a pivotal figure in Christian history, using classical sources to explore his upbringing, military career, and his role in the trial of Jesus. The book offers insights into Pilate's ambivalence during the trial and the political pressures he faced. It also examines the theological and symbolic significance of the crucifixion and its aftermath.
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Ryan speaks with Ann Wroe about her book Pontius Pilate: The Biography of an Invented Man, what she has learned over her long career of writing obituaries, why death is the great equalizer, the intrigue and misunderstanding of Pontius Pilate and his life, and more.
Ann Wroe is an author and columnist who has been the obituaries editor of The Economist since 2003. She has published several non-fiction books including biographies of Percy Shelley and Perkin Warbeck, and a book on the subject of the mythological figure of Orpheus, which won the London Hellenic Prize. Her biography of Pilate was shortlisted for the 1999 Samuel Johnson Prize. Ann became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2007, and she is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
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