Laura Coffey is not a classics scholar, she can't read Ancient Greek, often finds herself utterly lost, and so is an unlikely author of a book on mapping  The Odyssey.

However, Stephen Fry said it's "a magical and hugely captivating journey - a simply marvellous read, hugely recommended". The book has also been selected by Wanderlust as a top travel book for 2024, and by Blackwells as recommended summer reading.

This talk will look at the different theories of the real-life islands that inspired the fantastical lands of the most ancient of all travel adventure stories, and whether it's possible to map myths. It will consider the enduring appeal of this dusty old 3,000-year-old myth, and invite controversy and debate. 

Join Laura for on a mythical journey through the real world. Together we'll travel through tiny archipelagos and explore mystical Mediterranean islands thought to be the setting of Odysseus's epic journey.

We will encounter sea monsters and sex goddesses, fragile masculinity, toxic gods, polyamory and plenty of narcissism as we look again at this old text with fresh eyes. Together, we'll explore what myths are, the importance of the stories we tell ourselves, and the magical task of mapping imaginary worlds. 

Laura is happy to sign copies after the talk. 

^{Trigger warning: this talk may include discussions of terminal cancer and grief - the book also covers the deepening illness and death of her father.}