Never less than compelling She consistently succeeds in bringing what might otherwise seem dusty and remote to vivid life Tom Holland, Literary ReviewStarts with an erupting volcano and then gets more exciting Wonderfully rich, witty, insightful and wide-ranging Sarah BakewellIn a dazzling, lively new literary biography, Daisy Dunn weaves together the lives of two Roman Pliny the Elder, author of Natural History, and his nephew Pliny the Younger, who inherited his uncles notebooks and intellectual legacy.Breathing vivid life back into the Plinys, Daisy Dunn charts the extraordinary lives of two outstanding minds and their lasting legacy on the world.A fascinating, compelling and excellent biography Simon Sebag MontefioreImmensely entertaining and readable Thoroughly recommendedSunday Times
Daisy Dunn Books
Daisy Dunn delves deeply into the ancient world and its afterlife from the Renaissance forward, drawing on her expertise in the late Roman Republic, early Empire, and the art of Renaissance Italy. Her work is characterized by meticulous research and a passion for connecting the past with the present, often exploring themes of love, art, and social life through literary and visual works. Dunn investigates the intricate relationships between culture, history, and the human experience, offering readers insightful perspectives on antiquity's enduring influence.




Written in the twilight of the Roman Republic, the poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus offers a delicious insight into the passions and gossip of high Roman society. From the poet and his friends to cultural and political titans, including Caesar, Cicero, and Pompey, his cutting, modern verse spares no-one. In this new translation by Daisy Dunn, author of Catullus' Bedspread, his obscene honesty, arrogant wit and surprising tenderness capture Roman society at their best. Most famous for his obsessive love lyrics for the married Lesbia, Catullus' words are an immortal expression of youth, rebellion and agonised love.
Not Far From Brideshead
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
A real-life Brideshead Revisited that will appeal to fans of Evelyn Waugh, P. G. Wodehouse and Nancy Mitford
A vivid portrait of the ancient world that illuminates the stories of the women so often pushed to history's sidelines