Ever since her remarkable debut, Dr Dunn has been riding the crest of that success: she has recorded a couple of short films for BBC Ideas; she’s been garlanded with the Classical Association Prize in recognition of raising the subject’s profile; and she has been hard at work on her next book. Not Far from Brideshead: Oxford between the Wars We will be published in March 2022, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. And that is between contributing regularly to The Telegraph, The Evening Standard, History Today, Literary Review, The London Magazine, The New Statesman, Newsweek, The Oldie, The Times and The Sunday Times, among others.
Conspicuous success at such a young age is rarely a coincidence; rather it is borne of a good deal of hard work in addition to natural talent – and so it proves in the case of Dr Dunn. Growing up in Wimbledon amid a family of artists, she first studied Classics at Oxford before gaining an MA from the Courtauld and finally completing her doctorate at UCL, during which time she was awarded the Gay Clifford Award for Outstanding Women Scholars, and an Italian Cultural Society scholarship.
Here she tells us how she’s looked to the skies to broaden her horizons through the various lockdowns; why Jessie Burton – and her loo – tops her list of favourites on Instagram; and how James Blunt is forever her hero – at least when it comes to social media.
My favourite website...
Skyline Webcams or any worldwide webcam, really. Before I saw one of these sites for the first time I thought, ‘How creepy’. The idea that there are cameras live-streaming scenes from beaches and plazas and wherever else all over the world is difficult to adjust to. An invasion of privacy? Undoubtedly. But when you’re stuck at home, unable to travel, there’s something rather nice about being able to watch pigeons hatch on a rooftop in New York.
My favourite app...
SkyView. Again, probably through fatigue of lockdown, I’ve been eager to broaden my horizons this year, literally. This app is a brilliant introduction to stargazing and constellations.
My favourite blog...
I don’t read many blogs, but I do enjoy my sister’s, surreyedit.com. She’s generally sent a lot of new releases in fiction to review, while I’m bombarded with non-fiction. I check her blog so I know which books are worth stealing from her.
My Internet hero...
James Blunt. An inspiration to everyone who’s experienced the downsides of social media.
My favourite podcast...
As a podcast and radio critic, I listen to a lot. But I have to say I love Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe. It’s a wonderful fusion of art and science – two disciplines that are too often kept separate – with a lovely host.
My favourite YouTuber...
I just googled ‘Top YouTubers’ and wasn’t surprised to find that I hadn’t heard of a single one. I go to YouTube for music videos from the 1990s and cooking tutorials.
My most recent buy online...
Some greeting cards from the V&A and National Gallery shops and trinkets from the British Museum online.
Last book you downloaded or read...
I bought The Shadowy Third by Julia Parry as an e-book because I couldn’t wait to read it. The book’s based on some recently discovered love letters between the author’s grandfather and the novelist Elizabeth Bowen. It’s a beautiful journey.
Favourite tweeter...
It changes by the day.
Favourite Instagrammer...
I follow a curious number of koala accounts. I also admire the author Jessie Burton’s feed. I’ve never met her, but she’s great at communicating honestly the realities of being an author. She also has an excellently decorated loo.
Favourite tech gadget...
Having done most my Zoom talks this year in the dark, I decided to buy a USB-port halo light. It works wonders.
The most useful gadget/item on your desk...
My diaries. I have three: one for day-to-day events, one for trying to give some shape to my writing week/month, and a journal. I handwrite them all as I can’t be doing with digital calendars.
Most useful digital resource during lockdown...
I don’t think I could have managed without archive.org. It has thousands of digitized books, all available in full, and they’re searchable.
Most inspirational digital resource during lockdown...
I love poetry and apoemaday.tumblr.com posts something unexpected – Louise Glück, Pablo Neruda, Sappho, W. B. Yeats – every day. I must also praise Duolingo for daily modern language tuition.
First thing/app you look at on your mobile when you wake up/in the morning...
My email. There’s usually something in from the States or Australia.
Last thing you binge-watched...
The Queen’s Gambit. I generally prefer to make a good series last than devour it greedily, but I was hooked.
Favourite brands have you discovered online...
Jane Taylor Millinery. Laura Green London. Papier.
Social media allowed me to meet...
This may be because I spend relatively little time on it, but social media has generally been better at reconnecting me with people from the past than putting me in touch with people I’ve never met.
The best digital advice I've been given...
‘Double-check the website is legit before entering your bank details.’
My screensaver is...
A photo I took at Grange Park Opera a few years ago. It’s of trees at dusk and strings of lights in the grounds of the beautiful West Horsley Place.
My standout online memory...
Constantly clicking ‘refresh’ to get my university degree results. When I was doing my A Levels we still had to go into school to pick up an envelope. By the time I was a student, it was all-change. I rather missed the excitement of ripping something open, but retrieving marks online at least has the advantage of being private. My hand was no less trembling.
My pet online hate is...
The humblebrag.
Do you have any online rules or resolutions?
I try not to tweet or even to look at Twitter while I’m writing. I know in myself that I’m not doing my best work if I have one eye on another screen. I ask myself how I can possibly immerse my reader in ancient Rome, for example, if I’m not wholly immersed in it myself.
The Internet. On balance, a force for good or ill?
As a writer, I have to say for good. It certainly has its drawbacks, but the ease of being able to check a date or a name at the click of a button is something I’m always grateful for.
By Nancy Alsop
June 2021
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