Jack Charles Turner (born 1968) is an Australian non-fiction writer and television documentary host. His work focuses on international studies, especially relating historical societies to modern ones.

Background

Jack Charles Turner was born in 1968 in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

.Random House, Inc
"Author Spotlight: Jack Turner"
Retrieved 16 July 2023. He lives with his wife, Helena Fraser (a graduate of St Antony's College, Oxford, class of 1995), their son Oscar, and daughter Zoe,"Antonian Productions"
. (Autumn 2005). ''St Anthony's College Newsletter'' p. 11. Retrieved 16 july 2023. in Geneva. He has also lived in Oxford, Madrid, Tbilisi, and New York City."Making a difference: Rhodes Scholars review how the Scholarship shaped their lives"
. (Number 58 - Summer 2000) ''Trinity Today''. p. 11. Retrieved 23 November 2006.

Education

Turner graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies from The University of Melbourne, where he was a resident student at Trinity College (University of Melbourne), Trinity College. In 1992, he was elected as the "Australia At Large" Rhodes Scholarship, Rhodes Scholar,The University of Melbourne
"List of Rhodes Scholars Elected for Victoria"
. Retrieved 22 November 2006. and attended University of Oxford, Oxford University. Graduate study allowed Turner to change his major area of research interest, and in 1994 he graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford, Magdalen College with a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in International relations, International Relations."University Acts: Congregation 25 March: Degree by Special Resolution"
. (18 April 1996). ''Oxford University Gazette''. Retrieved 22 November 2006. His masters thesis entitled ''Soviet New Thinking and the Cambodian Conflict'' was completed in the Department of Politics and International Relations. Turner then went on to graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy degree (DPhil) in International Relations from Oxford, being awarded the MacArthur Junior Research Fellowship in International Relations at Exeter College."Full List of Successful Graduate International Relations Theses from 1971"
. p. 64. Retrieved 22 November 2006.

Writings

Two years after receiving his Fellow#Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Fellowship, Turner took a break from academia and took a professional job in Madrid, Spain. After spending three months wearing a Suit (clothing), suit to work, he decided that writing was calling. He quit his job and moved with his wife to Tbilisi, Georgia (country), Georgia to write his first book. Throughout his studies, Turner was fascinated by how many times various spices appeared in historical references. That, combined with an early interest in spices, partly enhanced by his mother's spicy cooking, resulted in his decision to pursue the subject of spices further.Random House, Inc
"AUTHOR Q & A: A Conversation with Jack Turner"
Retrieved 22 November 2006. The result is a book entitled ''Spice: The History of a Temptation'', which traces spices back through time, through history, myth, archeology, and literature. In the summer of 2000, he stated that he planned to base his next book on his experiences living in Caucasus.

Career

Turner is the host of the ''What the Ancients Knew'' documentary series on The Science Channel. In the series, he visited key places from world history, focusing on the scientific, anthropologic, economic, and mechanical issues of the ancient civilizations and how their works influence modern life. The original three episodes covered the Romans, the Egyptians, and the Chinese. Later episodes covered the Japanese, the Greeks, and India.

Bibliography

*''Spice: The History of a Temptation''. (9 August 2005). . Paperback. Vintage; Reprint edition, 384 pages. *''Spice: The History of a Temptation''. (21 March 2005). . Paperback. Harper Perennial; New Ed edition, 448 pages. *''Spice: The History of a Temptation''. (10 August 2004). . Hardcover. Knopf, 384 pages.

Notes and references

External links

* MP3 Podcast:
"What the Ancients Knew: China"
', hosted by Jack Turner. (11.8 MB, 26 min.) * MP3 Podcast:
"What the Ancients Knew: Rome"
', hosted by Jack Turner. (11.8 MB, 26 min.) {{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Jack 1968 births Living people Australian Rhodes Scholars Australian non-fiction writers University of Melbourne alumni People educated at Trinity College (University of Melbourne) Alumni of New College, Oxford