From the Nile to the Wall: Noises on the Memoirs of Hadrian

I read Margurite Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian. Then so did Patrick. Over the last week we decided to get together twice for some chat on the subject.

The recordings of both are presented below. The first is intended to be a better introduction, and we get a little more discursive in the second. 

1, Pt 1:

1, Pt 2:

2, Pt 1:

2, Pt 2:

Included in our discussion: Wolf Hall, Gene Wolfe's Peace, Starship Troopers, *CURRENT AFFAIRS!*, Piranesi, Piranesi, The Dark Brain of Piranesi, Agatha Christie, Rebecca West, classical architecture, the 1976 film Coup de Grâce and Napoleon. 

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Animula vagula blandula
Hospes comesque corporis
Quae nunc abibis in loca?
Pallidula rigida nudula
Nec ut soles dabis iocos