Capital praise for ‘sodding’ Romans

 
4 October 2013

Londoner's Diary pin-up Mary Beard is thrilled by the news that tunnellers working on the £14.5 billion Crossrail project have just uncovered 20 Roman-era skulls, buried six metres below Liverpool Street station.

“All Roman discoveries are extremely important,” said Beard, who was at last night’s 10th birthday party for the London Review Bookshop in Bloomsbury. “Why is London our capital rather than Winchester or Doncaster? Because of the Romans.

If you want to understand the entire geographical and social history of this country, you have to know about the sodding Romans.”

The Londoner was happy to compliment the classicist on her choice of glittering footwear and stylish turquoise trench coat for the LRB bash.

“If only AA Gill appreciated them,” laughed Beard. “But he wouldn’t recognise a sartorial choice if it hit him.”

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