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A Classical Education

The Stuff You Wish You'd been Taught at School

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A Classical Education

By: Caroline Taggart
Narrated by: Bill Wallis
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About this listen

Is the Greek alphabet all Greek to you? Is geometry your Achilles heel and does your knowledge of Homer have more to do with The Simpsons than the Sirens?

From engineering and architecture to drama and democracy, the world around us is founded on the principles and discoveries of the Ancient World, yet our understanding of it is episodic at best.

So if you've ever struggled with Socrates, wished you could formulate a logical argument or wondered whether the Romans really dined at vomitoria, then carpe diem and listen to this audiobook it's never too late to learn.

©2009 Michael O'Mara Books Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Ancient Europe Greece Rome World Ancient Greece Greek Mythology Ancient History

Editorial reviews

The complete guide to a classical education is heard in A Classical Education: The Stuff You Wish You’d Been Taught at School written by freelance editor Caroline Taggart and narrated in this audiobook by British actor and voice artist Bill Wallis. The scope and depth of research in this book is staggering. It covers innumerable topics of educational and historical significance. Listeners are taken to the roots of ancient civilisations, learning how the first pioneers in these subjects made advancements that paved the way for the world we live in today. Available now from Audible.
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Oh my word, what were they thinking when they chose this style of narration?! I really wanted to learn something from this book, and there is a lot to learn (albeit more in a fun-fact kind of way), but the narrator is so preoccupied with channelling Derek Jacobi that it distracted me. Such a shame.

Over-the-top narration

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The history explored was patchy and sporadic and seemed to prove the point of the author's knowledge. Although entertaining the level of the reader's Greek was nonexistent and had me asking just what sort of an education I was being rewarded with.

Lovely reading but the Greek was a scandal.

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I enjoyed this - the reader, channeling Derek Jacobi, was spot on for the job, if a little stagey here and there. The material is fascinating. The book well written. I'll be returning to this one.

Return visits will happen

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You may think this book is an academic exercise in classical literature, however the author has done a great job of bringing a classical education into a fun forum and given us a contemporary edge to the topic. I totally enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone that has even a passing interest in the subject.

Fun, Fast, Interesting and Intriguing.

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