The ruthless realities of Caligula and Aussie politics

 
27 June 2013

An eclectic crowd gathered at the Times Literary Supplement’s summer party held last night in the grounds of Gray’s Inn chambers, hosted by its editor, Sir Peter Stothard. Guests included Julian Barnes, Jung Chang, John Sutherland and agent Caroline Michel.

Also there was BBC1 chatshow host Graham Norton. “No, I don’t write for the Times Literary Supplement, but I wonder if they need an agony uncle?” he asked. Two Aussie exiles, the lawyer Geoffrey Robertson and Barry Humphries, were chatting about the ousting of the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. “They are absolutely ruthless politicians,” said Humphries. “Maybe there is still a chance for Les Patterson to become Prime Minister.”

Londoner’s Diary pin-up Mary Beard was telling me about her latest BBC series on the Roman emperor Caligula. “It’s about power, autocracy, sex and death — all the things your readers like,” she told me.

“Everyone says ‘Is it true that Caligula f***** all his sisters?’ And I say ‘Look, I’d love to tell you. But it’s difficult to know if the guy next door is sleeping with all his sisters, never mind someone who lived nearly 2,000 years ago’.”

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