Emily Austin

Emily Austin is an Associate Professor of Classics and the College at the University of Chicago. She specializes in Homeric studies, particularly the emotions and characterization in the Iliad, Greek literature, and conceptions of solitude in ancient Greece. Her research bridges literary analysis with linguistic exploration, focusing on Greek and Latin grammar and the Classical Tradition.

Education: Ph.D., Boston University, 2016.

Her research interests include Homer's portrayal of grief and longing, solitude as a positive concept in ancient Greek poetry, and the narrative functions of Homeric similes. Her book Grief and the Hero: The Futility of Longing in the Iliad (2021) examines the interplay between grief and action through the lens of the Greek term ποθή. Current projects explore solitude's unexpected virtues in ancient Greek texts.

Publications span analyses of Homeric themes, reviews of classical scholarship, and explorations of emotional expression in epic poetry. Her work emphasizes close textual analysis paired with broader cultural interpretations.

Her research has been published in venues such as Classical Journal and Classical World, showcasing her contributions to Homeric studies and ancient emotion analysis.