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Natalie Haynes Stands Up For the Classics: A Comical Guide to Ancient Greece and Rome, Series 1-4
A humorous and informative look at historical characters from ancient Greece and Rome.
Natalie is a recovering comedian who is a little bit obsessive about Ancient Greece and Rome. Each week she takes a different figure from the ancient world and tells their story through a mix of stand-up comedy and conversation.
Over the course of these four series she tells the stories of Sophocles (who invents the TV detective with Oedipus - bad things happen), Virgil (who creates Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Aspasia (how to be a notorious woman in ancient Greece), Ovid (expect frottage at the races), Plato (on the chunky side, but very good at wrestling) and Sappho (a lot of gossip from over 1,000 years ago), among others.
Featuring special guests including classicists Professor Edith Hall and Professor Llewelyn Morgan, novelists Stella Duffy and Ben Okri and comedians Katy Brand and Al Murray.
Natalie is a recovering comedian who is a little bit obsessive about Ancient Greece and Rome. Each week she takes a different figure from the ancient world and tells their story through a mix of stand-up comedy and conversation.
Over the course of these four series she tells the stories of Sophocles (who invents the TV detective with Oedipus - bad things happen), Virgil (who creates Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Aspasia (how to be a notorious woman in ancient Greece), Ovid (expect frottage at the races), Plato (on the chunky side, but very good at wrestling) and Sappho (a lot of gossip from over 1,000 years ago), among others.
Featuring special guests including classicists Professor Edith Hall and Professor Llewelyn Morgan, novelists Stella Duffy and Ben Okri and comedians Katy Brand and Al Murray.
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 21, 2019
14 people are currently reading
1400 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Haynes
27 books7,126 followersNatalie Haynes, author of THE FURIES (THE AMBER FURY in the UK), is a graduate of Cambridge University and an award-winning comedian, journalist, and broadcaster. She judged the Man Booker Prize in 2013 and was a judge for the final Orange Prize in 2012. Natalie was a regular panelist on BBC2’s Newsnight Review, Radio 4’s Saturday Review, and the long-running arts show, Front Row. She is a guest columnist for the The Independent and The Guardian. Her radio series, Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics, was first broadcast in March 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 4, 2022
This is a perfect blend of history and comedy. Natalie Haynes explores many classical figures in a lighthearted manner, many of whom I personally had barely ever heard of. But her passion of ancient history is contagious and I am glad that I learned about them now.
May 17, 2022
I didn't actually listen to this as an audiobook but as a podcast, but if Goodreads will let me count it... *shrug*. Besides, I don't feel too guilty because I'm gonna listen to the other three seasons anyway.
November 21, 2019
Made me read more ancient greek and roman texts
January 1, 2023
Educational and satirical. Had a chuckle while cleaning up lol
July 26, 2023
Hilarious and informative as always, absolutely love it and hope the series continues!
September 6, 2021
Okay so it's not a book but a radio show for the BBC. But it is fabulous! Haynes is witty and informative and brings a quick charm analysis to life in these quick roughly 30 minute shows.
Some of favorites were Virgil, Livy, Euripides and Aristophanes and Aeschylus. But there are also great episodes on the women of the ancient world like Aspasia.
If you like ancient literature you will enjoy this very much and if you don't know anything about ancient literature this a lovely, fun quick intro.
Some of favorites were Virgil, Livy, Euripides and Aristophanes and Aeschylus. But there are also great episodes on the women of the ancient world like Aspasia.
If you like ancient literature you will enjoy this very much and if you don't know anything about ancient literature this a lovely, fun quick intro.
April 17, 2024
4.5/5! This was so interesting and entertaining to listen to! I don't know anything about classics but this was a really accessible introduction! Highly recommended!
March 31, 2019
History with modern references and comedy - a great approach to biography of the ancient world.
Having always enjoyed learning about these periods, and having enjoyed Haynes' book 'An Ancient Guide to Modern Life', this sounded like a pleasant way to learn more about key figures.
Haynes covers sixteen figures from the ancient world in episodes, with each discussed in terms of their lives, their works, quotes and achievements, in the context of their times. And she does it by effortlessly interweaving modern references, comparing the work sometimes to Poirot, to Sherlock Holmes, to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and science fiction. And it's all there - it seems almost obvious as she shows us the forerunners of modern cultural literature.
I had heard of most of the subjects, some I knew a little about, some nothing at all. And I was pleased to hear about female writers as well. Each felt quite 'bitty' though, though this is a side-effect of being a radio broadcast and not an academic lecture series - there just isn't time to cover a subject in such depth. And it is surely up to the interested listener to research further in their own time.
Each episode is pulled together from smaller segments it seems, there is editing that could mean one longer show is edited down, and guests add their own expertise on the persons covered (comedians, academics, writers).
I enjoyed hearing the Latin words these writers gave us (having never studied a word of the language) and the beautiful pithy translations we have from them. Beautiful.
Personally, I'll be honest and say that Haynes' sense of humour and the audience (or laugh track?) didn't hit the spot for me, I found her jokes almost universally a little weak (sorry!!! Just not very funny in my opinion, though I do hate canned laughter), but I was highly impressed with the content otherwise.
It's one I would want to listen to a second time to keep the details in my head, listening to this kind of talk means there is too much to take in. Quotes and extracts are helpful to see on a page. Haynes herself is a skilled speaker, clear and easy to follow.
Excellent introduction to important figures of the ancient world. Would love to learn more.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
Having always enjoyed learning about these periods, and having enjoyed Haynes' book 'An Ancient Guide to Modern Life', this sounded like a pleasant way to learn more about key figures.
Haynes covers sixteen figures from the ancient world in episodes, with each discussed in terms of their lives, their works, quotes and achievements, in the context of their times. And she does it by effortlessly interweaving modern references, comparing the work sometimes to Poirot, to Sherlock Holmes, to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and science fiction. And it's all there - it seems almost obvious as she shows us the forerunners of modern cultural literature.
I had heard of most of the subjects, some I knew a little about, some nothing at all. And I was pleased to hear about female writers as well. Each felt quite 'bitty' though, though this is a side-effect of being a radio broadcast and not an academic lecture series - there just isn't time to cover a subject in such depth. And it is surely up to the interested listener to research further in their own time.
Each episode is pulled together from smaller segments it seems, there is editing that could mean one longer show is edited down, and guests add their own expertise on the persons covered (comedians, academics, writers).
I enjoyed hearing the Latin words these writers gave us (having never studied a word of the language) and the beautiful pithy translations we have from them. Beautiful.
Personally, I'll be honest and say that Haynes' sense of humour and the audience (or laugh track?) didn't hit the spot for me, I found her jokes almost universally a little weak (sorry!!! Just not very funny in my opinion, though I do hate canned laughter), but I was highly impressed with the content otherwise.
It's one I would want to listen to a second time to keep the details in my head, listening to this kind of talk means there is too much to take in. Quotes and extracts are helpful to see on a page. Haynes herself is a skilled speaker, clear and easy to follow.
Excellent introduction to important figures of the ancient world. Would love to learn more.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
January 19, 2023
Listened on bbc4 and then discovered podcasts , this got me intrigued into an area I’ve never ever thought of before. I just want to know so much more now . Natalie tells it so well and with great fellows who add and bolster the characters in history , I’m off to find out more and definitely more from Natalie and the realm of podcasts .
January 21, 2025
Wasn’t a read but an audio book. You learn a bit and chuckle every now and then I guess. What was actually nice though was how Natalie and her guests would always find a way to hint at “some things never change”.
They’d take a historical/ mythological figure breakdown their anecdotes and point at a public figure today and say “look we still see this today”. A reminder that humans are humans.
Can get boring and tiresome, if you’re not particularly familiar with most Roman and Greek history, I found myself jumping back and forth from ChatGPT and Google to make sense of some of the babble Natalie was going on about.
They’d take a historical/ mythological figure breakdown their anecdotes and point at a public figure today and say “look we still see this today”. A reminder that humans are humans.
Can get boring and tiresome, if you’re not particularly familiar with most Roman and Greek history, I found myself jumping back and forth from ChatGPT and Google to make sense of some of the babble Natalie was going on about.
October 14, 2022
( Format : Audiobook )
"Nothing creates accidents like the sea."
Not usually a fan of stand up comedians, I was nevertheless attracted to this book by its subject matter: I am a big fan of the ancient Greeks and Romans. And Natalie Haynes is now also a firm favourite First broadcast as a series of comedy programmes on BBC radio, she, together with two invited guests, puts her own spin on an individual from the ancient world, their works,lives and that of those around them. And she is always intriguing, amusing, and, at times,downright hilarious.
Each classical individual is given their own (aproximately) half hour chapter, and are, in order of appearance:
Patrons
Sophocles
and
Aspacia
Aristophanes
Ovid
Plato
Agripina
Safo
Cicero
Lucian (first of the SF writers?)
Juvenal
Phryne
Horace
Euripides
Livy
A great performance from Ms.Haynes whose voice is warm, often bubbling with laughter, but also forceful, and encompassing, at times quite delightfully confessional,brimming with revelations. Wonderful.
Fun, informative, and each chapter just the right length for a shortish car journey or to fit into an odd pocket of time between other activities. But make sure that you are somewhere where your shudder boots of laughter will not offend
"Nothing creates accidents like the sea."
Not usually a fan of stand up comedians, I was nevertheless attracted to this book by its subject matter: I am a big fan of the ancient Greeks and Romans. And Natalie Haynes is now also a firm favourite First broadcast as a series of comedy programmes on BBC radio, she, together with two invited guests, puts her own spin on an individual from the ancient world, their works,lives and that of those around them. And she is always intriguing, amusing, and, at times,downright hilarious.
Each classical individual is given their own (aproximately) half hour chapter, and are, in order of appearance:
Patrons
Sophocles
and
Aspacia
Aristophanes
Ovid
Plato
Agripina
Safo
Cicero
Lucian (first of the SF writers?)
Juvenal
Phryne
Horace
Euripides
Livy
A great performance from Ms.Haynes whose voice is warm, often bubbling with laughter, but also forceful, and encompassing, at times quite delightfully confessional,brimming with revelations. Wonderful.
Fun, informative, and each chapter just the right length for a shortish car journey or to fit into an odd pocket of time between other activities. But make sure that you are somewhere where your shudder boots of laughter will not offend
February 29, 2024
Standup comedy and Greek/Roman Mythology are two of my favorite things. I have fallen in love with Natalie’s works over the last couple of years and was looking forward to listening to these series. This was highly entertaining and had me laughing out loud a lot.
Many of these classical figures I did not know much about or had never heard of them before, so I was learning quite a lot throughout. There are many works that I know I will be picking up after she talked about them, especially Aristophanes’s comedies. The Frogs sounds great. Also, I want to pick up Ovid’s Heroides.
The only aspect of this that I didn’t love was when some of the conversations were interspersed throughout. These were interesting but sometimes they interrupted Natalie’s jokes and I wish they would have waited until she was done with the joke. Overall, the conversations with the classists were very informative and added even more to this experience. I highly recommend this to Greek/Roman classics fans.
Many of these classical figures I did not know much about or had never heard of them before, so I was learning quite a lot throughout. There are many works that I know I will be picking up after she talked about them, especially Aristophanes’s comedies. The Frogs sounds great. Also, I want to pick up Ovid’s Heroides.
The only aspect of this that I didn’t love was when some of the conversations were interspersed throughout. These were interesting but sometimes they interrupted Natalie’s jokes and I wish they would have waited until she was done with the joke. Overall, the conversations with the classists were very informative and added even more to this experience. I highly recommend this to Greek/Roman classics fans.
June 17, 2022
if goodreads is gonna let me class this as an audiobook then sure, i'll take it ahahahah
let me just start by saying, i fkn love Natalie Haynes. she's a frigging awesome lady and she's just SO funny idk how she does it. in her episode on Livy, she talks about how there was this one Spaniard who loved Livy so much that he travelled to Rome from Spain just to look at Livy. not even to talk to him. just to LOOK. i feel like this is exactly what i'd be like if i ever met Natalie 👀😅😂
i am also obsessed with the fact that this is just her nerding out onstage about how awesome certain classical figures are. i'm a big history nerd and tho i love the classics i don't rly know a wholeee lot about them, but she's made me want to go and read Cicero's speeches and Sappho's poetry (though tbh i kinda already did want to) and go and find out more about Phryne and Aristophanes and greek comedies and Lucian's the True History. safe to say, i'm a natalie stan for life 😍😍
let me just start by saying, i fkn love Natalie Haynes. she's a frigging awesome lady and she's just SO funny idk how she does it. in her episode on Livy, she talks about how there was this one Spaniard who loved Livy so much that he travelled to Rome from Spain just to look at Livy. not even to talk to him. just to LOOK. i feel like this is exactly what i'd be like if i ever met Natalie 👀😅😂
i am also obsessed with the fact that this is just her nerding out onstage about how awesome certain classical figures are. i'm a big history nerd and tho i love the classics i don't rly know a wholeee lot about them, but she's made me want to go and read Cicero's speeches and Sappho's poetry (though tbh i kinda already did want to) and go and find out more about Phryne and Aristophanes and greek comedies and Lucian's the True History. safe to say, i'm a natalie stan for life 😍😍
May 27, 2024
I listened to the first part of these because I am a huge fan of Natalie Haynes's books. While I haven't read the works of any of the authors she covers in this part, I loved listening to the history as well as Haynes's descriptions of these historical figures. She covers ancient literature, philosophy, social and gender roles, and their effect on the modern world in such an engaging manner. Her humor really elevates the experience as well and brings a lot of fun to the episodes. I had no idea that Plato was a nickname, or that Lucian had a taste for biting the people he disagreed with! I can't wait to read the other parts in this series.
June 2, 2022
There are debates on whether or not this is a book, since it’s basically performed standup comedy, which I think the author would really appreciate, seeing as how books evolved out of stand up storytelling tradition. This is a fantastic lesson! Addition to being interesting, funny, and that you can get an overview of the classics without ever even having heard of any of them before, Natalie Haynes makes a point to include women, which means creating 30 minute segments around people who have literally no information preserved about them, it’s fascinating! Huge recommend.
May 3, 2023
Quality Rating: Five Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Five Stars
I adore Natalie Haynes, I adore Classics, and I adore that this audiobook is literally the best of both. In half hour comic stand ups mixed with engaging lectures, Haynes investigates various figures throughout ancient history, from playwrights to poets, from courtesans to orators, politicians and pretty much unknowns. If you’re looking for an accessible window into Classical Studies, or just a good laugh while learning some history, Haynes is the perfect storyteller to open the door to you.
Enjoyment Rating: Five Stars
I adore Natalie Haynes, I adore Classics, and I adore that this audiobook is literally the best of both. In half hour comic stand ups mixed with engaging lectures, Haynes investigates various figures throughout ancient history, from playwrights to poets, from courtesans to orators, politicians and pretty much unknowns. If you’re looking for an accessible window into Classical Studies, or just a good laugh while learning some history, Haynes is the perfect storyteller to open the door to you.
October 24, 2022
Delightful, educative, makes you wanna read and it makes laugh!
December 9, 2022
Enjoyable comic take on the classics.
April 20, 2023
What a terrific not-a-book! Learned a tonne (?) about history. Maybe? Makes me want to read some Lucian. And Natalie Haynes, of course.
July 17, 2023
I listen to this on Spotify on repeat while at the gym!
April 26, 2024
Hilarious summaries of the classics. Fairly certain I'll have this one on repeat.
June 10, 2024
These were so fun; what a great concept and format! I only wish I was British to catch more of the humor in some references.
Read
August 18, 2024If I’m being honest, this isn’t a book. But it’s on Libby. And it’s on here. And it’s really good.
February 4, 2023
Natalie Haynes is truly a delight. I am grateful for the way she condenses big important people and big important historical moments into funny, educational, fascinating bite-sized chunks. I don't feel like I'm an expert on the classics, but I could now definitely hold my own at a pretentious dinner party or make it through the $200-$800 level questions on Jeopardy.
March 26, 2024
Great fun with classics! I loved this novel approach to playwrights and poets (most focus on the myths). Haynes pop culture references made sense, and her passion for the subject was evident. I especially liked the Phryne and Ovid bits.
Why not five stars - she speaks very quickly, which doesn’t lend itself to actually internalizing the information.
Why not five stars - she speaks very quickly, which doesn’t lend itself to actually internalizing the information.
April 6, 2025
A good collection of historical facts, both in quality and quantity, presented with a large dose of good humour. I loved her style.
My only qualm was that in a few spots, the feminism went into overdrive, becoming sexist on its own. Fortunately, these detours were only a fracture of the overall series and can be skipped without missing anything related to the main topic.
My only qualm was that in a few spots, the feminism went into overdrive, becoming sexist on its own. Fortunately, these detours were only a fracture of the overall series and can be skipped without missing anything related to the main topic.
May 27, 2021
SO GOOD. Hilarious, educational, reflective, did I mention hilarious? Go spend eight hours of your life learning about Plato, Socrates, Livy, Agrippa, and twelve other historical/literary figures in ancient Greek and Roman literature.
August 7, 2023
Hilarious and informative. Much more a radio show than a book, but I listened to this on Libby so I'm counting it. Would recommend if you want a very informative but often surprisingly hilarious take on the classics.
July 7, 2024
I’ve been convinced that podcasts may be worth my time. I don’t know how Natalie Haynes makes learning so absolutely enjoyable. She is brilliant and the humor makes it much more enjoyable. I do wish that i couldn’t tell that each show had more content than i saw though, that breaks my heart.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews