@ljtrafford
I write about Romans. A lot. Someone should probably stop me. Author of the Four Emperors Series set in 68/69 CE and the non fiction How to Survive in Ancient Rome, Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Rome & Ancient Rome's Worst Emperors.
I went to see that Wuthering Heights film. I've never read the book, nor seen any adaptation of it, nor did I know anything about the plot aside from it includes people called Cathy & Heathcliffe. I have heard the Kate Bush song, that's ace. Which possibly explains why I rather enjoyed it.
Including chapter sub headings such as:
The stone sausage of man
'Er indoors - the seclusion
The paedophile poet of Sardis
Women out of control
I may have gone all out in this book. It is a tricky and complex subject matter.
Oooo Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Greece is up for pre-ordering..
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Sex-and-Sexu...
Quite possibly...
Tacitus totally getting what January is like in the UK, 'The climate is wretched, with its frequent rains and mists but there is no extreme cold. Their day is longer than in our part of the world.'
I feel like I really need spring this year..
I didn't know that they were so good. Lots of exotic locations, jaw dropping stunts and comedy one liners that never feel forced. Very enjoyable all in all.
Yeah I saw the 1st one way back in the cinema. The newest ones have some astonishing set pieces and stunts that they did for real. Tom Cruise broke his leg doing a jump between buildings, you can see him limping out of shot.
I'm spending the recovery time catching up on Mission Impossible films. They are quite marvellous
I thought it would never end
Had an operation on my arm on Friday, it was a surprisingly smooth process. Arrived for 7 a.m. I was first on the list, in theatre by 9 a.m. Woke up at 10.30 a.m. Home by 13:30 p.m. Very impressed by the way the staff worked around my medication timings to ensure I took my Parkinsons pills on time.
Come hell & high water I am shoehorning this Livy quote into my WIP. It's too delicious. "The year was marred by omnious signs, fires blazed in the sky, there was a violent earthquake & a cow talked - there was a rumour that a cow had talked the previous year but nobody believed it"
Morning Livy research gem
"In the Palace about this time there occurred a very odd thing [] A little boy named Servius Tullus was lying asleep when his head burst into flames."
It's been a long time since I read a book for pleasure. Why? I have a full time job, a chronic illness, two children, my own books to write that involve reading many serious books.
Picked up a battered copy of an 80s Danielle Steel/Barabara Taylor Bradford style novel. Am bloody loving it.
Which I then HAD to follow up with Valens and Caecina because they are ruddy fascinating. Naturally you can't get all the bonkers details in this format, unless anyone has a spare three hours to listen to me natter on.
youtu.be/4ZwxtFJHAZw?...
My new toe dipping into the world of TIktok and You Tube has somewhat reignited my passion for ther year of the four emperors. I had forgotten all the amazingly bonkers stuff that went on. Here's my short bit on Vitellius.
youtu.be/RmRCfUZsRoE?...
Absolutely stunning coin shared by the awesome @doccrom.bsky.social of a gold coin minted for #Vitellius. Now, there is also a really good video by @ljtrafford.bsky.social in which she talks just about this event.
Thanks Doc Crom and all the best for 2026!
BARGAIN ALERT
How to Survive in Ancient Rome my guide to the city in 95 CE is now only £7.50. Contains crucial information such as which festivals to avoid if you're squeamish, how not to upset the emperor & why you should carry a cabbage with you at all times
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/How-to-Survi...
More Happy Archaeologist goodness for 2026! Women of Power in the Roman World, thru Greenhill, with a forward by amazing @ljtrafford.bsky.social !
Sent back the first proofs of Sex & Sexuality in Ancient Greece and was feeling pretty chipper about it until I remembered I've still got the indexing to do. My least favourite part of the process...
I grew up watching Carry On films & That’s Life, a TV show that devoted a whole segment each week to vegetables that had grown into amusingly rude shapes, a primordial soup of an upbringing that means I am pre-programmed to enjoy a good knob gag.
the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
My History GIrls blog post is on one of gifts that the Ancient Greeks bestowed upon western civilisation. The knob gag.
the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
How to Survive in Ancient Rome is going to be translated into Chinese, adding to the Japanese and Polish versions. Interesting that it has not been yet been published in a country that was part of he Roman Empire, aside from Britain of course.
I am off to the big city today and to my new workplace's office for the first time.
Im doing public transport and taxis. I have Passenger Assistance booked to help me on and off the train but this is rush hour in London, which I haven't attempted before.
Wish me luck.
Well i had a fabulous day at the #RoystonBookFair as it was general audience I wasn't expecting too much. But I had several fascinating conversations about Romans with punters, gave my 10 minute talk twice because one lady missed it, so I did it again just for her.
And I sold a few books too!
I'm at the #RoystonBookFair this Saturday giving a short talk on how the Romans measured time, why boiled flamingo never caught on with the lower classes & why insomnia caused the death of so many Romans (according to Juvenal).
Come say hi if you are in the area.
www.roystonbookfair.co.uk
I have the edits for Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Greece. It's a better read than I remember, damn entertaining. Well it's entertaining me anyhow.
I shall be at the #roystonbookfair on 27th September flogging books.
Come say Hi if you happen to be in the area.
With my latest book proposal given the thumbs up, a research purchase
