Those of you who live in UK (and USA, Visiting Sather Professor, UC Berkeley this autumn) have of course so infinitely more information concerning " the classical world's most provocative figure", as she has been called .

I can easily imagine that you have seen a great deal of her on TV and in the papers these last days.
Her latest book, Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town is offically out today.
As could be expected, her new book appears to be hugely interesting and full of controversial views. So far I have read just one review.

Mary Beard's famous blog "'A Don's Life" (TLS on line) has quite a global following and can, on a good week, have as many as 40,000 hits a day. While waiting for her book , you can enjoy her latest entry " 10 things you need to know about Pompeii "!