Dr. Emily Austin

Biography

Emily Austin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago. She holds a Ph.D. from Boston University, awarded in 2016. Her primary research interests focus on Homer, particularly the characterization and emotional responses depicted in the Iliad. Her book, 'Grief Hero: Futility Longing Iliad,' examines the complex relationships of grief, longing, and anger in Homer's work, highlighting Achilles’ unique experience of grief and the theme of longing expressed through the Greek word 'ποθή.' Austin is also working on a current project titled 'Solitude Powers Ancient Greece,' which investigates the positive conceptions of solitude in ancient Greek poetry. She has published several scholarly articles exploring various aspects of Homeric literature, including the significance of Homeric similes and the role of inaction in the 'Homeric Hymn to Demeter.'

Research Interests