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Robin James Lane Fox

ロビン・ジェームズ・レイン・フォックス

Robin Jēmuzu Rēn Fokkusu

Aliases: Robin Lane Fox

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1946-10-05 （England）
Nationality
British
Languages
English
Religion
Atheism
Residence History
Oxford

Career

Occupations
Classicist, Ancient Historian, Gardening Writer, Educator, Author
Active Years
1970-2023
Affiliations
New College, Oxford, Faculty of Classics, University of Oxford, Exeter College, Oxford, Financial Times
Memberships
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL)
Influenced By
G. E. M. de Ste. Croix, Louis Robert, Peter Brown, E. R. Dodds, Timothy Barnes, E. J. Bickerman, Martin Litchfield West, Walter Burkert, W. G. Forrest

Education

Eton College
Country: United Kingdom
Magdalen College, Oxford
Literae Humaniores
Country: United Kingdom

Awards

James Tait Black Memorial Prize
1973
Work: Alexander the Great
Organization: University of Edinburgh
Result: Winner
Duff Cooper Prize
1973
Work: Alexander the Great
Result: Winner
Heinemann Award
1986
Work: Pagans and Christians
Organization: Royal Society of Literature
Result: Winner
Runciman Award
2008
Work: Travelling Heroes
Organization: Anglo-Hellenic League
Result: Winner
Wolfson History Prize
2015
Work: Augustine: Conversions and Confessions
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Alexander the Great

1973 Biography/History

A classic biography detailing the life and conquests of Alexander the Great.

ConquestAncient MacedonMilitary History
Adaptations
  • [Film] Alexander / Oliver Stone (2004)

Pagans and Christians

1986 History

Analysis of the relationship between pagans and Christians in late antiquity based on sources.

Early ChristianityPaganismRoman Empire

The Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian

2005 Epic History

Comprehensive history of the classical world from Homer to Hadrian.

Ancient GreeceAncient Rome

Travelling Heroes: Greeks and Their Myths in the Epic Age of Homer

2008 Myth/History

Explores the origins of Homeric myths and Greek travels.

HomerGreek MythsGreek Dark Ages

Augustine: Conversions and Confessions

2015 Biography

Biography of Saint Augustine focusing on his conversions and confessions.

ChristianityConversionSaint Augustine

Bibliography

  • Alexander the Great
  • Variations on a Garden
  • Better Gardening
  • V. Sackville-West. The Illustrated Garden Book
  • Pagans and Christians
  • The Unauthorized Version: Truth and Fiction in the Bible
  • The Long March: Xenophon and the Ten Thousand
  • The Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian
  • Travelling Heroes: Greeks and Their Myths in the Epic Age of Homer
  • Thoughtful Gardening: Great Plants, Great Gardens, Great Gardeners
  • Brill's Companion to Ancient Macedon
  • Augustine: Conversions and Confessions
  • The Invention of Medicine: From Homer to Hippocrates
  • Homer and his Iliad

Adaptations

  • Historical advisor and extra in the film Alexander (2004, dir. Oliver Stone)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Rigorous source-based analysisEngaging narrative styleScholarly yet accessible
Recurring Motifs
Ancient Greek historyEarly ChristianityGardening

Legacy

Renowned as a leading scholar of classical antiquity, particularly for works on Alexander the Great and early Christianity. Also active as a gardening columnist.

Academic Societies

  • Royal Society of Literature

In Popular Culture

  • Daughter Martha Lane Fox is a prominent entrepreneur and crossbench life peer.
  • Son Henry Lane Fox is CEO of The Browser.

Trivia

  • Atheist.
  • As gardening correspondent for the Financial Times, involved in controversy over banning garden gnomes at Chelsea Flower Show.
  • Wrote and presented Greek Myths: Tales of Travelling Heroes on BBC Four.