Carol Atack
@carolatack.bsky.social
Ancient politics and political thought, modern art, Plato and Xenophon. Fellow of Newnham College, FRHistS. Cambridge and elsewhere. Recent books: Plato: a civic life (Reaktion) and Xenophon (Greece & Rome New Surveys in the Classics, Cambridge).
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Carol Atack
@carolatack.bsky.social
· Jan 6
The paperback of my 'Plato: a civic life' will be published on March 1st. I'll be doing some more talks and podcasts in support, and will add details to this thread as they're confirmed. More info and a pre-order link here: reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/plato
Actual physical paperback now sighted! Here it is, just as lovely as the hardback but with some lovely quotes from reviews added (all but one in alt text) - thanks to everyone who has read and commented. Head to @reaktionbooks.bsky.social or your local bookshop to preorder!
February 13, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Actual physical paperback now sighted! Here it is, just as lovely as the hardback but with some lovely quotes from reviews added (all but one in alt text) - thanks to everyone who has read and commented. Head to @reaktionbooks.bsky.social or your local bookshop to preorder!
And here's more details about the British Museum talk: www.britishmuseum.org/events/membe...
Plato: a life in philosophy
Join Classics historian Dr Carol Atack to explore the turbulent life of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in our online lecture.
www.britishmuseum.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:09 PM
And here's more details about the British Museum talk: www.britishmuseum.org/events/membe...
I've just checked the website, and yes it will be recorded.
February 4, 2026 at 4:08 PM
I've just checked the website, and yes it will be recorded.
Very excited to be giving an online talk to the Friends of the British Museum on March 9th! If like me you're a member, you should have just received the booking email...
February 4, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Very excited to be giving an online talk to the Friends of the British Museum on March 9th! If like me you're a member, you should have just received the booking email...
American Psycho at the Almeida - the Guardian has it right, Brett Easton Ellis's novel caught something about 80s culture that was not good then... interesting to hear the audience last night laugh at some dated references, gasp at others which have become more salient in the present moment...
American Psycho review – yuppies making a killing offers a chilling origin story for our corrupt times
American Psycho review – yuppies making a killing offers a chilling origin story for our corrupt times
In a bloody, brilliant, full circle Rupert Goold bows out as artistic director of the Almeida with a timely revival of the musical he first staged here in 2013
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:11 AM
American Psycho at the Almeida - the Guardian has it right, Brett Easton Ellis's novel caught something about 80s culture that was not good then... interesting to hear the audience last night laugh at some dated references, gasp at others which have become more salient in the present moment...
Fabulous Alexander the Great, painted by the Master of the Story of Griselda in the 1490s, currently visiting the Courtauld Gallery in London from the Barber Institute in Birmingham, originally from Tuscany.
January 29, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Fabulous Alexander the Great, painted by the Master of the Story of Griselda in the 1490s, currently visiting the Courtauld Gallery in London from the Barber Institute in Birmingham, originally from Tuscany.
I didn’t know this, um, remarkable depiction of the Cave, by 16th century Flemish artist Michiel Coxcie, leaning heavily on Michelangelo’s figures, now in the Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai.
January 27, 2026 at 10:15 PM
I didn’t know this, um, remarkable depiction of the Cave, by 16th century Flemish artist Michiel Coxcie, leaning heavily on Michelangelo’s figures, now in the Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai.
Fascinating Slade lecture in Cambridge from Professor Terry Smith, opening his series ’Frames of Vision: The Intelligence of Artists’ with ‘Visual Allegories of Seeing as Knowing, Plato and Giorgione’, showing how Plato’s Cave operates as a ‘hyper-icon’ across time and genre.
January 27, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Fascinating Slade lecture in Cambridge from Professor Terry Smith, opening his series ’Frames of Vision: The Intelligence of Artists’ with ‘Visual Allegories of Seeing as Knowing, Plato and Giorgione’, showing how Plato’s Cave operates as a ‘hyper-icon’ across time and genre.
Scruton didn't read Greek (he told me so himself), in case you were wondering.
January 23, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Scruton didn't read Greek (he told me so himself), in case you were wondering.
For the start of term, here’s one of Axel Salto’s many takes on the story of Actaeon from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, currently on display at the Hepworth Wakefield in a fabulous show of his ceramic and other works.
January 19, 2026 at 10:07 AM
For the start of term, here’s one of Axel Salto’s many takes on the story of Actaeon from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, currently on display at the Hepworth Wakefield in a fabulous show of his ceramic and other works.
A long list of museums, archives and libraries - worth looking to see if any of your favourites are using this site.
A Bluesky challenge!
We've got so many great heritage/GLAM accounts here now, that some are flying under the radar
From national organisations to niche collections, these active accounts are all (at time of posting) under 500 followers-lowest at 9-how many can we get over 500?
go.bsky.app/U16Nwsw
We've got so many great heritage/GLAM accounts here now, that some are flying under the radar
From national organisations to niche collections, these active accounts are all (at time of posting) under 500 followers-lowest at 9-how many can we get over 500?
go.bsky.app/U16Nwsw
January 13, 2026 at 11:11 AM
A long list of museums, archives and libraries - worth looking to see if any of your favourites are using this site.
Reposted by Carol Atack
Finally, the WCC UK is on Bluesky! Lots of exciting updates in the next few months, so do give us a follow @womeninclassicsuk.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Finally, the WCC UK is on Bluesky! Lots of exciting updates in the next few months, so do give us a follow @womeninclassicsuk.bsky.social
This is by way of a welcome to new followers. I’m still teaching and researching in this area - the dynamics of gender are a fruitful way to approach classical Athenian democracy, especially its male-dominated public spaces.
January 12, 2026 at 12:09 PM
This is by way of a welcome to new followers. I’m still teaching and researching in this area - the dynamics of gender are a fruitful way to approach classical Athenian democracy, especially its male-dominated public spaces.
It’s roughly the tenth anniversary of David Bowie’s death and of me playing my Sex and Gender in classical Greece students this video. No better illustration of early 1970s UK discourse on sexuality than the gap between performers & audience which Bowie bridges so well. m.youtube.com/watch?v=RIrH...
David Bowie ► The Jean Genie (HD) - [Top of the Pops 1973]
YouTube video by youpi444
m.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:01 PM
It’s roughly the tenth anniversary of David Bowie’s death and of me playing my Sex and Gender in classical Greece students this video. No better illustration of early 1970s UK discourse on sexuality than the gap between performers & audience which Bowie bridges so well. m.youtube.com/watch?v=RIrH...
One of my schools talks/taster lectures is called 'The Fragility of Democracy', and I've enjoyed sharing it with many school groups over the past few years, looking at how ancient Greek democracy handled political crises. Right now, am busy updating it for its next outing on Monday...
January 7, 2026 at 4:11 PM
One of my schools talks/taster lectures is called 'The Fragility of Democracy', and I've enjoyed sharing it with many school groups over the past few years, looking at how ancient Greek democracy handled political crises. Right now, am busy updating it for its next outing on Monday...
I'll be speaking about Plato and his life in Athens at the Oxford Literary Festival on Wednesday March 25. oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-e...
Plato: A Civic Life | Oxford Literary Festival
Carol Atack - Plato: A Civic Life
oxfordliteraryfestival.org
January 6, 2026 at 2:35 PM
I'll be speaking about Plato and his life in Athens at the Oxford Literary Festival on Wednesday March 25. oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-e...
The paperback of my 'Plato: a civic life' will be published on March 1st. I'll be doing some more talks and podcasts in support, and will add details to this thread as they're confirmed. More info and a pre-order link here: reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/plato
January 6, 2026 at 2:20 PM
The paperback of my 'Plato: a civic life' will be published on March 1st. I'll be doing some more talks and podcasts in support, and will add details to this thread as they're confirmed. More info and a pre-order link here: reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/plato
Happy New Year from the Yorkshire seaside. With best wishes to all for 2026 and especially those who’ll be spending the year completing overdue monographs…
January 1, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Happy New Year from the Yorkshire seaside. With best wishes to all for 2026 and especially those who’ll be spending the year completing overdue monographs…
Manuscript now submitted!
A very exciting start to the month as the final contribution to the Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Political Thought arrived in my inbox - heading now to submission of a complete and formatted manuscript! Partial contents list as a teaser below:
December 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Manuscript now submitted!
Hearing from @polphilpod.bsky.social that my 'Plato's tyrant' episode has made the top 5 of his Political Philosophy podcast this year, remembered to post a picture of the 'Plato's tyrant' protest sign which the artist Peter Liversidge made for me at his sign-making studio installation in October.
December 21, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Hearing from @polphilpod.bsky.social that my 'Plato's tyrant' episode has made the top 5 of his Political Philosophy podcast this year, remembered to post a picture of the 'Plato's tyrant' protest sign which the artist Peter Liversidge made for me at his sign-making studio installation in October.
So much enjoyed talking to Toby @polphilpod.bsky.social and glad that others enjoyed listening!
most downloaded interviews in 2025:
5. plato's tyrant @carolatack.bsky.social
4. ignoring politics @chrisfreiman.bsky.social
3. the eu @simonhix.bsky.social
2. the political right & equality @mattpolprof.bsky.social
1. it's fascism @kjephd.bsky.social
www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com
5. plato's tyrant @carolatack.bsky.social
4. ignoring politics @chrisfreiman.bsky.social
3. the eu @simonhix.bsky.social
2. the political right & equality @mattpolprof.bsky.social
1. it's fascism @kjephd.bsky.social
www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com
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www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:45 AM
So much enjoyed talking to Toby @polphilpod.bsky.social and glad that others enjoyed listening!
The rest of the museum is an extraordinary jumble of art, antiquities and artefacts from many cultures. Here’s the antiquarian’s studiolo…
December 13, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The rest of the museum is an extraordinary jumble of art, antiquities and artefacts from many cultures. Here’s the antiquarian’s studiolo…
If you’re looking for wholesome family content how about Giuliano Bugiardini’s delightful family group with Leda, Castor, Clytemnestra and a rather tame swan? Painted in the 1520s and now on display in the Casa Museo Ivan Bruschi, Arezzo?
December 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
If you’re looking for wholesome family content how about Giuliano Bugiardini’s delightful family group with Leda, Castor, Clytemnestra and a rather tame swan? Painted in the 1520s and now on display in the Casa Museo Ivan Bruschi, Arezzo?
Last line of the screenshot which wouldn't fit in the Alt text: '29 Parrhesia and the Critique of Rhetoric in the Classical Polis'. Thanks to all the authors who've come on this long journey with me! More soon; now to settle on a cover image...
December 1, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Last line of the screenshot which wouldn't fit in the Alt text: '29 Parrhesia and the Critique of Rhetoric in the Classical Polis'. Thanks to all the authors who've come on this long journey with me! More soon; now to settle on a cover image...