Guilty Pleasures: Luxury in the Ancient and Medieval worlds 'Casually authoritative young classicist Dr Michael Scott explains how ancient Greece managed the visible display of wealth among its citizens.' 'In another fascinating history lesson, Dr Michael Scott explores medieval Christian attitude to luxury.' Radio Times Pick of the Week and Pick of the Day 'The first of two films presented by classicist Dr Michael Scott a TV natural is a real eye opener… good, solid and fascinating stuff.' 'The modern parallels he draws are interesting and the whole film moves along with an impatient energy that demands your attention.' 'In the second part of Dr Michael Scott's insightful two-parter, he explores the changing perception of luxury - and rarely goes down the paths you expect. This is exactly what BBC4 should be doing more of.' Daily Mail Highlight of the Week and Pick of the Day 'Luxury, as TV's enthusiastic classics man Dr Michael Scott is at pains to illustrate here, has been - at times almost literally, a moveable feast.' Guardian Pick of the Day 'Michael Scott's great achievement in this examination of luxury in the Middle Ages is to recast dusty, dimly remembered primary-school history in a compelling new light... unlike his namesake at Dunder Miffin, he talks good sense.' Time Out '….a new breed of academic but telegenic presenters seem to be taking over television. This week, Cambridge historian Dr Michael Scott confirms his place among their number with BBC 4's Guillty Pleasures...Scott offers a contrast to such elder statesmen of history programming as David Starkey and Simon Schama.' TV and Satellite Magazine What is luxury and how have attitudes to it changed? Questions such as these exercise historian Dr Michael Scott in this nicely crafted two-parter.' The Sunday Telegraph 'The presenter, the historian Dr Michael Scott, is full of vim and vigour here, attempting to conjure images of Ancient Greece in full feasting mode.' The Times 'Guilty Pleasures shuttled us back in time under the tutorship of Dr Michael Scott who managed to make his subject far more appealing than any of my classics masters.' Daily Express School Talks 2010-11 -Teacher Feedback "I thought it was an outstanding talk by an engaging speaker. He covered a broad scope of material without overloading the audience. He set art and arch in its wider context, which is exactly what I wanted. There are so many 'items' to cover in the course that we teachers (especially classics teachers!) get bogged down in the details. I myself learned new things from it, so it was not just the students who benefited." "In lessons I find myself now referring continually back to points Dr Scott made. It really has been hugely valuable. So many thanks to him." "I have caught up and watched Delphi. I thought it magnificent...terrific views, beautifully crafted, topical, and presented with a fine mix of awe and excitement from an erudite base. Lots of small things I had not thought about for ages, which of course will now come out in teaching Hippolytus and Oedipus not to mention the Greek set texts. The whole view and the way Michael presents questions, demands thought, I thought were so good...I think your Michael Scott should be the voice and face of classics for the next 10 years at least." "I thought he spoke clearly and packed in a huge amount of information. I liked the way he handled sanctuaries, temples, statues, pots and wove back so interest was kept at a peak level...no one topic too long." Delphi: bellybutton of the ancient world (BBC 4 November 2010) "Scott, who made this programme,... does it with a style and skill, moreover, that will surely set a new standard in this burgeoning genre" Anglo-Hellenic Review Spring 2011 "Delphi: bellybutton of the ancient world. This last was presented by Michael Scott, a dashing young media don from Cambridge, and follows on from his book on Delphi and Olympia; he is someone we will hear a lot more from" Classical Association News December 2010 "Putting the case is Cambridge classicist Dr Michael Scott, who is a find. Dishy, bright-eyed and casually scarved, he's from the Kevin McCloud school of sensitive, thoughtful awe." Radio Times, 22nd November 2010 "Scott deftly shows how Athens used the sanctuary to proclaim its dominance over Greece" The Sunday Times 21st November 2010 "Over an engaging hour, [Scott] delves farther into Delphi's rich window into ancient life" The Times 22nd November 2010 "Scott puts the site and the seers of the oracle in evocative context" Daily Mail, 22nd November 2010Hot List - TV and Satellite Magazine November 2010 Reviews for Delphi and Olympia (CUP 2010): Bryn Mawr Classical Review August 2010 "Overall this book is a notable success." For the full review click here. Times Literary Supplement 15th October 2010 "It is the particular merit of [the book that it] has turned to the archaeology, monuments, dedications and buildings of these sanctuary sites to test the nature of panhellenism as it changed over the archaic and classical periods." For the full review, click here. Anglo-Hellenic Review "This handsome and readable volume belies its origin in the PhD research of Michael Scott, a rising star of Ancient history in Cambridge... what will deservedly become a standard work" Shortlisted for the Runciman Award 2011 "Scott has produced a readable re-examination of the two main panhellenic sanctuaries, with a detailed reconsideration of the nature and meaning of panhellenism" Karim Arafat, Chair of Judges. Teaching Latin in Primary State Schools: "Michael Scott's talk was engaging, interesting and provocative. It was thoroughly enjoyed by the children who clearly enjoyed learning from such an authority on Roman culture. The children's endless questions, ready participation and vociferous applause showed that Michael's talk was a perfect introduction to the wonders of the Ancient World." Jonathan Goddard, Teacher, The Latin Programme - via facilis. Reviews of "From Democrats to Kings": ‘A gloriously entertaining and provocative account of a period of Greek history that is no less important for having so often been overlooked.’ Tom Holland ‘I really enjoyed From Democrats to Kings – fascinating and exuberant on Ancient Athens, bringing their politics to life and right up to date, making Ancient Greece relevant for today.’ Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Young Stalin and Catherine The Great & Potemkin ‘Deft and accessible overview of one of the most crucial periods in Western history, covering from the fall of Athens to the rise of Alexander by Cambridge research fellow Scott.’ School House magazine “Scott writes extremely clearly and unpicks the complex first half of the century very well …. He brings the history to life by interspersing it intelligently with quotes from the sources, especially on the leading actors’ motives and character. ….we need all the intelligent popularisers we can get, and given the readability of the book despite its subject matter, I think Scott could do a lot to open up the classical world to a new generation.” Peter Jones, Journal of Classical Teachers “ Michael Scott is a young Cambridge historian experienced in lecturing to cruise-ship passengers and secondary school pupils as well as undergraduates. This book (his first) successfully addresses them all.” John Taylor, Anglo-Hellenic Review“The period after the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC often gets passed over by historians, so it is great to have Michael Scott's lively account of a period that has its own fascinations. States rose and fell, brilliant generals had their moments of glory, ill-considered foreign expeditions crashed to defeat. Lots of lessons for today. Scott's vivid narrative takes us through Alexander and then into the kingdoms that followed. Perhaps the Hellenistic period will be his next subject. It has just the sort of drama and big personalities that grip his, and our, imaginations so I hope he considers a follow-up as entertaining as this one.” Review by Charles Freeman, Author of A New History of Early Christianity, Egypt, Greece and Rome: Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean, Sites of Antiquity: “An admirably written chapter from the past that illustrates history's ability constantly, often tragically, to repeat itself.
“Dr Michael Scott, a research fellow at Cambridge, is making a big splash with his first book – it is on a major historical theme and the storyline is handles with verve and original insights. The treatment is accessible and punchy, and a wide readership cannot fail to be entertained as well as instructed about a world that is both familiar and alien, modern as well as ancient" “It's admirable of Michael Scott to shine a light on the forgotten 4th century, and he's engaging about the culture that bloomed as Athens faded." Harry Mount reviews From Democrat to Kings in the Daily Mail 16th October 2009 A Selection of Cruise Reviews: 
“easyCruise.com invited Michael Scott to be a guest lecturer during our first season of Classical Greece tours. He shared his passion for Ancient Greece and certainly inspired our customers as he brought the Classical world to life in his own truly unique style. We are looking forward to welcoming him back for our spring 2008 season.” Peter Carbery, Assistant-Editor of the Daily Star Sunday: 
“You never know what you're going to get on a "budget" tour of mythological Greece, but there was nothing cut-price when it came to Michael's knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject. He was able to bring to life the story behind the statues, temples, sites and myths of a long-gone civilisation, and present it with a freshness and relevance to contemporary society. Coming across as England's answer to Indiana Jones, complete with hat but minus the bullwhip, he effortlessly built up a devoted following among the female contingent of the tour, who fired questions after question at him in the hope of some smouldering one-on-one eye contact and velvety, lyrical prose. They were seldom left disappointed. Faced with a mixed party of travellers whose knowledge of the subject ranged from sketchy to perceptive, Cambridge Fellow Michael was the spoonful of sugar that helped the culture go down, in the most delightful way! Entertainment and learning in the same package...a real hit and myth.” Sunday Mirror - 7 January 2008 
Once my travelling partners, Elizabeth and Ciro, awoke from their slumber, they joined me in the hot tub and we sipped some cocktails. It wasn’t long before Liz noticed a young man sitting at the bar. “Cor, he’s fit!” she said as he got up and walked across the deck. To see the full story – click here Mail on Sunday - 17 February 2008 
"A guest lecturer, Dr Michael Scott, classicist and fellow of Darwin College Cambridge, joined us ...and brought the sites alive" To see the full story – click here Daily Express - 20 February 2008 
"Let the Prof give you the lowdown on high culture" "Michael, who quickly became known as 'the Prof', is the week's guest lecturer...Michael's enthusiasm for his subject is infectious and he mingles happily with all the passengers, sharing knowledge both on board and on trips... If you pick a date with the Prof on board, thats an added bonus" To see the full story – click here Michael Greco, star of EastEnders, Celebrity Love Island and ITV’s Soapstars-Superstars
Paul Saltzman, President, Sunrise Films Limited 
“Having produced, and/or directed more than 300 film and television productions, both documentary and dramatic forms, I recommend Michael Scott most highly as a writer/presenter. My experience of him is as an expert guide/lecturer on a recent one-week tour of classic Greek sites. The word, on the ground, so to speak, was that he was most impressive and appealing to the men and women, young and older, on the excursions. Personally, he comes across as extremely informed, very adept in his delivery and presentation, and highly accessible as an authority/presenter. On top of that he's warm, young and good looking, for television purposes. Finally, if his wriiting reflects his chosen words and expressions of verbal delivery, as I experienced them, I'd use him as a writer/presenter." On-line Cruise Critic review of easycruise.com tour of classical Greece: (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=663668)
“They had a guest lecturer, Michael, from Cambridge University on board. He spoke on most of the tours and was by far the best guide I have ever experienced in all of the cruises or vacations I have ever been on.” “Keep up the terrific work, keep getting guest lecturers of Michael’s calibre (that is a very tall request).” Anonymous official reviews of Michael as guest lecturer aboard easycruise.com’s tour of Classical Greece: “We enjoyed our spring vacation on board easycruise one departing March 16 VERY much. Wonderful sights, great service and the benefit of acclaimed lecturer Dr Michael Scott. He was a fountain of information which he presented in such an easy-going way that made it fun and interesting even for our 9-year-old son. What a great bonus on this trip!” “Having Michael on board and at the sites gave us a depth of understanding that we would not have otherwise had. He was really able to help us gain a more complete picture of that time.” Question: Did you learn something about the Classical world? Response: “Holy Smoke YES!!! Michael was great.” “Michael was awesome.” “We were lucky to have Michael Scott with us on board as guest lecturer – he has a real passion for Greek history.” “The talks given by Dr Michael Scott made the cruise. He communicated his love and understanding of the ancient world in ways that outperformed any guest lecturer…he was concise, accessible and deeply knowledgeable.”
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