Contact
Biography
I studied at Nottingham for both my MA and PhD (the latter with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and under the supervision of Judith Mossman and Patrick Finglass). Previously, I was an undergraduate at Trinity College, Oxford, and gained a PGCE in Classics from Homerton College, Cambridge.
I am part-time: my usual days of work at the university are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Mondays and Fridays I teach adult education courses in Leicester.
Expertise Summary
My main research is in the area of Greek literature, particularly literature of the 'Second Sophistic' and its responses to the Homeric epics. But I also have broader interests in ancient literature, as well as in Latin and Greek language and linguistics (including Medieval and Neo-Latin), which is the main focus of my teaching.
Teaching Summary
I have been teaching on Classics modules at Nottingham since 2002.
I mostly teach Latin and Greek language, but also often contribute to literature modules. In 2019-20 I am convening the department's Greek modules (autumn) and teaching on Intermediate Latin (spring), as well as convening the History MA module Latin for Medievalists (spring).
I have also run a reading group focusing on post-classical Latin, and have led seminars as part of the Foundation Year.
In addition to my teaching for the university, I teach a range of Adult Education courses elsewhere on Latin, Greek and the ancient world, including courses as part of a programme for adults with mental health problems. I am always keen to explore ways in which these different types of teaching can inform each other.
Research Summary
My PhD thesis was on the use of Homeric quotation, allusion, parody and cento in the work of the satirical author Lucian of Samosata (who wrote in Greek in the 2nd century AD). I am currently… read more
Recent Publications
Current Research
My PhD thesis was on the use of Homeric quotation, allusion, parody and cento in the work of the satirical author Lucian of Samosata (who wrote in Greek in the 2nd century AD). I am currently revisiting this material in more depth; in particular I am considering Lucian's versions of Ajax and the Judgement of Paris. I have also been exploring his enigmatic text 'Makrobioi' ('Long-Lived Persons'), which has generally been considered spurious.