Celebrity British historian earns top recognition in Spain

2016-06-02 08:00:00

Congratulations to Mary Beard. The top British historian has not only been attracting a loyal television audience in recent years, but she has also caught the eye of the very prestigious ‘Princesa de Asturias’ Foundation, who have awarded her their social sciences prize this year.
The ‘Princesa de Asturias’ foundation is a highly-respected private charity that aims to promote and recognise achievements in science, art and the humanities on a global scale. Based in Oviedo, Asturias, it is named after the traditional title for the heir to the Spanish Crown.
Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at Cambridge University, is a world authority on ancient Greece and Rome and well known for her relaxed way of presenting her subject. Commenting on their decision, the awards’ panel said that Mary has “an extraordinary talent to transform specialist knowledge into something that is easy to understand and accessible to the general public”.
A great thinker
Her programmes and books on Pompeii and Rome have recently attracted much attention and her works have been published in Spain. In 2014, Prospect Magazine named her one of the most influential thinkers in the world.
Among other winners already announced for this year in the eight different categories is the American photojournalist, James Nachtwey, who will receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities.
The awards ceremony will take place in Oviedo in October in the presence of the king. In recent years other winners of awards have included Francis Ford Coppola, Philip Roth, Frank Gehry, Wikipedia and the New York Marathon.source surinenglish