Step back in time with Rob Delaney as he brings an Ancient Roman’s tale of a dinner date gone awry to life. In this video, Rob reads a letter written by Roman lawyer Pliny the Younger in 97 AD. Picture the scene – a lone Pliny at his dinner table, betrayed by the absence of his friend Septicius Clarus. He then decides to write a snub letter to his “friend” in response to the unexpected solitude. This reading took place at the 10th-anniversary Letters Live show at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, adding a modern touch to a two-millennia-old narrative.
For those curious about what Pliny the Younger looked like, here is a photo of the statue of the man located on the facade of Cathedral of S. Maria Maggiore in Como, courtesy of Wikipedia user JoJan, who released the photo with a CC BY 3.0 license.
You can also read the Wikipedia page about Pliny the Younger right here and of his friend, Septicius Clarus, here.
Statue of Pliny the Younger on the facade of Cathedral of S. Maria Maggiore in Como