Congratulations to author Mary Beard, named one of the New York Public Library’s Library Lions. The honor, bestowed annually, acknowledges distinguished individuals for outstanding achievements in arts, culture, letters, and scholarship. This year’s inductees also include artist Laurie Anderson, journalist and author Charles Blow, playwright Lynn Nottage, and economist Amartya Sen.
Mary Beard is one of the world’s leading classicists and cultural commentators. A specialist in Roman history and art, she is professor of classics at the University of Cambridge and the author of numerous books, including SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, Woman and Power: A Manifesto, and, with Princeton University Press, Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from the Ancient World to the Modern (2021). The fascinating story of how images of Roman autocrats have influenced art, culture, and the representation of power for more than 2,000 years, Twelve Caesars has been hailed as “a mesmerizing read” (Michael Dirda, Washington Post) and “wonderfully readable, with graceful prose and witty comments along the way” (Barry Strauss, Wall Street Journal).