What a wonderful orientation guide! Thank you for making it easy for us to understand what you're up to here, Matthew, and how to make the most of your Substack. I look forward to reading together in the coming year!
I really love how you have a orientation guide for your substack and how you are so clear on what you post each week - I find it gives your substack such depth, there is always something good to read on here
This is a very accessible and well-organized website. Thank you for taking the time, sharing your talents and thoughts, and lending the rest of us a hand in accessing sometimes-daunting literature. This has been a wonderful find for a better 2025!
What a warm, heartfelt guide to your blog and website! I especially loved the part about your dad and how you would sit on his lap while he read to you. Interestingly, my own pursuit of writing stems from my father's love of literature and novels, hidden behind his practical successes. Although he never had the opportunity to pursue his literary interests more seriously due to the demands of life and the world as we know it, I feel lucky to have inherited his passion for books and literature after a long career in corporate structures. Your purpose and background resonated with me deeply. I wish you all the best on your journey, and I look forward to reading your essays.
I’d be very happy to do a guest post. I studied Classics at Magdalen in Oxford, with Oliver Taplin who is an expert on Homer and Greek tragedy and used to act in lots of classical plays when at Oxford. He wrote a book ‘Homeric Soundings’ all about the oral tradition of the poem.
I originally trained as a barrister after studying with him, but also wrote books and have recently been thinking more and more about the earliest democracy (I did an interview with another Classical scholar on the subject which I posted a few days ago).
I often write about classical themes on here and my latest novel is all about ancient medicine and women’s role in it.
I wondered if you had come across Alice Oswald’s collection of poems ‘Memorial’ where she translates the death descriptions and animal similes from the Iliad? It’s wonderful.
Matthew, this is such a generous and grounding introduction—not just to your Substack, but to your ethos as a writer. I loved the way you tied your early reading memory with your dad to a lifelong pursuit of meaning through books. That Charlotte’s Web passage still gets me.
Your structure here is clear, inviting, and deeply human. The “Created with human intelligence” promise hit especially hard—there’s something rare and sacred about slowing down to explore literature in this digital age without shortcuts.
Excited to walk alongside you and Lola on this journey. Looking forward to the Deep Reads and Tuesday morning reflections. Subscribed with joy.
I was just wondering if there haven’t been any conversations in the chat since March 26th? Or is something wrong on my end? Just wanted to make sure if I’m missing something. Thank you.
As a fellow writer and newsletter creator, I’m always excited to see spaces that go beyond just recommending books and instead explore the deeper stories, personal connections, and creative journeys behind them. There’s something really special about inviting readers behind the curtain like this. I’ll be following along eagerly (and probably stealing a few ideas for my own newsletter bookshelf too!).
Thanks Tracy!
What a wonderful orientation guide! Thank you for making it easy for us to understand what you're up to here, Matthew, and how to make the most of your Substack. I look forward to reading together in the coming year!
I commend your decision to spend your time so productively. It's a good example for us all. Thanks.
I really love how you have a orientation guide for your substack and how you are so clear on what you post each week - I find it gives your substack such depth, there is always something good to read on here
Your site is beautiful—-my goal!
Thank you Lisa!
Can you tell me how you got the cursive font? I don’t see it as a choice—looks very professional!
I created images using Canva and then uploaded them.
This is a very accessible and well-organized website. Thank you for taking the time, sharing your talents and thoughts, and lending the rest of us a hand in accessing sometimes-daunting literature. This has been a wonderful find for a better 2025!
Thanks Beth.
What a warm, heartfelt guide to your blog and website! I especially loved the part about your dad and how you would sit on his lap while he read to you. Interestingly, my own pursuit of writing stems from my father's love of literature and novels, hidden behind his practical successes. Although he never had the opportunity to pursue his literary interests more seriously due to the demands of life and the world as we know it, I feel lucky to have inherited his passion for books and literature after a long career in corporate structures. Your purpose and background resonated with me deeply. I wish you all the best on your journey, and I look forward to reading your essays.
Thank you for the kind words. Glad to have you here.
Hi Matthew,
I’d be very happy to do a guest post. I studied Classics at Magdalen in Oxford, with Oliver Taplin who is an expert on Homer and Greek tragedy and used to act in lots of classical plays when at Oxford. He wrote a book ‘Homeric Soundings’ all about the oral tradition of the poem.
I originally trained as a barrister after studying with him, but also wrote books and have recently been thinking more and more about the earliest democracy (I did an interview with another Classical scholar on the subject which I posted a few days ago).
I often write about classical themes on here and my latest novel is all about ancient medicine and women’s role in it.
I wondered if you had come across Alice Oswald’s collection of poems ‘Memorial’ where she translates the death descriptions and animal similes from the Iliad? It’s wonderful.
Thanks for being here Joanna. I am not familiar with Alice Oswald but I will look up that work. Thanks for the recommendation.
My next opening for a guest post is in August. Send me a direct message with your idea for an essay and we can go from there. Thanks again.
Matthew, this is such a generous and grounding introduction—not just to your Substack, but to your ethos as a writer. I loved the way you tied your early reading memory with your dad to a lifelong pursuit of meaning through books. That Charlotte’s Web passage still gets me.
Your structure here is clear, inviting, and deeply human. The “Created with human intelligence” promise hit especially hard—there’s something rare and sacred about slowing down to explore literature in this digital age without shortcuts.
Excited to walk alongside you and Lola on this journey. Looking forward to the Deep Reads and Tuesday morning reflections. Subscribed with joy.
Thanks for the generous comments Anton and for introducing yourself here. I look forward to having you along for the journey beyond the bookshelf!
Thank you Mathew!
I was just wondering if there haven’t been any conversations in the chat since March 26th? Or is something wrong on my end? Just wanted to make sure if I’m missing something. Thank you.
As a fellow writer and newsletter creator, I’m always excited to see spaces that go beyond just recommending books and instead explore the deeper stories, personal connections, and creative journeys behind them. There’s something really special about inviting readers behind the curtain like this. I’ll be following along eagerly (and probably stealing a few ideas for my own newsletter bookshelf too!).