Mary Norris: From Comma Queen to Greek Geek

Copy editor and grammar nerd Mary Norris has seen the fabled linguistic traditions of the New Yorker up close – she’s been working at the magazine for 40 years, most famously as query proofreader and Comma Queen. That experience forms the backbone of her first book, Between You & Me. ‘I hope writers will see that we are not the enemy,’ she has said of her profession. ‘We love the language.’

In her latest book, Greek to Me, Norris shares her love of all things Greek. Of course, it’s about language – how the Greeks adapted the Phoenician alphabet, and the surprising ways Greek informs English – but it also documents Norris’s encounters with Greek gods, wine, men, and olive groves. Myths are reinterpreted; landmarks are sought out; beautiful coincidences of word and symbol are excavated.

We’re delighted to welcome Mary Norris back to Melbourne for a chat about her travels through Greek language, culture and art – hosted by Penny Modra.

Readings will be our bookseller for this event.

This event will be Auslan interpreted.