Comments for Ruth Downie

Comment on Any questions? by Sandra

Sandra — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:31:35 +0000

Blimey, what a question to ask - What are your theories about the end of Roman Britain?! A reply along the lines of ‘The Romans just switched off the lights and went home’ could’ve done the trick Well at least your audience was keen!

Olney - that’s where they do the pancake race. Ah, them’s were the days of living in Bucks …

Comment on Any questions? by Ruth

Ruth — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:26:05 +0000

Thanks, John - I’m especially glad you enjoyed the Second Spear’s daughter: I really enjoyed writing that bit. Reading the books the other way around may be interesting, as you’ll meet a few people in ‘Medicus’ whose future you already know…

Comment on Any questions? by John Galavan

John Galavan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:37:52 +0000

Ruth- I found you by acident and enjoyed Terra Incognita enormously. (I will read Medicus next.) I liked the strength you gave Tilla and the quirky disposition you gave Roso. I was hoping that at the end they might get married! Loved the mad doctor and Valens who arrived as a good friend able to mock and prod his pal. The sight of Second Speer’s daughter was fun!

Really enjoyed your work! Looking forward to the next installment!!!!!

Comment on Mud, glorious mud by Allan Davies

Allan Davies — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:57:26 +0000

Oh, I don’t know, I bet the Romans en joyed playing mud pies as much as the next civilisation. It’s a deeply rooted instinct, if you ask me.

Comment on What sort of a writer are you… by Mark Fortner

Mark Fortner — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:10:10 +0000

It’s not just a Roman practice, but also a modern-day practice in Mexico on The Day of the Dead (All Souls Day). Sounds like the title of murder mystery (and thus fitting for the gathering).

Comment on Of mice, men and the Iron Age by Ruth

Ruth — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:44:22 +0000

Hi Mark,

Sorry for the delayed reply: I’ve been away from the desk. Yes, the Mary Beard book mentions something about family breakup too - with Christianity being thought to undermine the authority of the head of the household. Maybe that’s the background to St Paul’s exhortation to wives to obey their husbands.

The Museum of London is great, isn’t it? I really like the way they’ve set up the displays with the ‘Roman Street,’ etc. If you’re ever over this way you would probably enjoy the Verulamium Museum at St Albans, too.

As for what Ruso looks like… ah, there you have me. The truth is, I don’t have a specific face in mind (my agent fancies that he’s George Clooney, but I suspect she has George Clooney in mind for everything). I do however have a facial expression, which happens to reside on the face of British actor Robert Bathurst in a photo I have pinned by the desk - a sort of exasperated resignation.

Comment on What sort of a writer are you… by bookwitch

bookwitch — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:58:00 +0000

I’m sure the lie down will do me good. Feel very tired.

Am very disappointed with myself for not finding teashop. Should have realised there was a world outside the kettle in my room.

Comment on Of mice, men and the Iron Age by Mark Fortner

Mark Fortner — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:17:12 +0000

Hi Ruth,
Thanks very much for the book recommendations. It looks like my library as “Pagans and Christians” so I think I’ll start with that one.

The integration of politics and religion in Roman times would definitely cause them to see Christianity as a threat to the power structure. I’m listening to Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations” (courtesy of LibriVox.org), and getting a sense of his perspective on the whole thing.

I read somewhere that Romans also blamed Christianity for a breakdown in family cohesion. There were apparently many cases of wives leaving husbands, son’s being disinherited, etc. after having “run off to join that strange Jewish cult”. I don’t remember if it was Pliny, or Tertullian, or just something I read in passing.

My wife and I went to the Museum of London several years ago and saw some really interesting Roman exhibits there. And seeing references to Mithraism and Christianity started me wondering about what the lives of these Roman immigrants were like in the wilds of Britain.

Secret religions! Threats to State and family. I’m sure there’s a murder mystery in there somewhere!

One thing I’ve always wondered is, what does Ruso look like? When you write about him, do you have some actor in mind that you use as a model? I know that when Dan Brown wrote “The Da Vinci Code” he had Harrison Ford in mind — I think he was a bit disappointed when the movie came out.

Comment on So where is Coria, then? by Ruth

Ruth — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:34:21 +0000

Hi Georgia,

Great to hear you’re a supporter of the local library! I work part-time in a public library and they’re an excellent thing (deserving vastly more funding than they get, but that’s another story).

Hope you make it to the north before long: there’s stacks to see and do, especially if you’re planning a trip round the Roman remains. Chester’s an excellent place to visit. I’m going back in October for their literary festival and am really looking forward to it.

Best wishes,

Ruth

Comment on So where is Coria, then? by Georgia Lyster

Georgia Lyster — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:10:40 +0000

Dear Ms. Downie,

I live on a small island in Washington State USA. I took “Medicus” out of our local library and was so enchanted that I am now reading “Terra Incognita”.

I have enjoyed both your books and look forward to more of them.

We visited London in 2005 on a tour and our mouths are still wide open. You have a marvelous country. One of these days we hope to return and do Chester and the north.

Sincerely,

Georgia Lyster