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Fame

Fame

by TomPayne (Author)

  • New

    Hardcover 2009

    $5.00
Synopsis

What does "Big Brother" tell us about Athenian democracy? What does the fate of Achilles say about the death of Ayrton Senna? Do pop stars sell their souls to the devil? Why does anyone want to be famous? And why do we want them to be? We're told that we're celebrity-obsessed. But are we? When we elevate mere mortals to the status of gods, is this a new disease, or a more ancient instinct? Throughout history we have defined ourselves with reference to famous people and allowed them to exercise a strange power over us. But we have power over them too. Whether they are renowned for their intelligence, beauty, valor, athletic prowess or artistic genius, or even nothing in particular, they have always been at our mercy: We can give them glory and take it away. Has fame changed? And is our fascination with it really such a bad thing? Tom Payne expertly surveys deities and divas through the ages to answer these puzzling questions and many more.

$5.00

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Quantity

Temporarily out of stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 288
 Publisher: Vintage
Published: 06 Aug 2009
ISBN 10: 009951639X
ISBN 13: 9780099516392
Book Overview: A fascinating and enlightening account of our relationship with famous people, and how it has evolved through the ages.

Media Reviews
Eccentric and erudite * Metro *
Good fun... Payne invokes art, literature, religion, politics and sport to make many perceptive points * The Times *
Tremendous gusto, humour and many flashes of self-knowing irony...a good read -- Mary Beard * Observer *
It's set to do for classics what Harry Mount's much-lauded Amo, Amas, Amat ... and All That achieved for Latin in 2006 - the updating of a fusty subject for a modern audience * Independent *
A guide to the murky waters of celebrity...combining an up-to-date ear for gossip with classical erudition, lightly worn...It's like reading Grazia, but feels as worthy as memorising Homer * Daily Telegraph *
Author Bio
Tom Payne was born in 1971. He read Classics at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. For four years he was deputy literary editor of the Daily Telegraph. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Dorset, and teaches English and Classics at Sherborne School.