Mary Beard’s by now famous blog A Don’s Life has been running on the TLS website for nearly three years. In it she has made her name as a wickedly subversive commentator on the world in which we live. Her central themes are the classics, universities and teaching — and much else besides.

What are academics for?

Who was the first African Roman emperor?

Looting — ancient and modern.

Are modern exams easier?

Keep lesbos for the lesbians.

Did St Valentine exist?

What made the Romans laugh?

That is just a small taste of this selection (and some of the choicer responses) which will inform, occasionally provoke and cannot fail to entertain.