Ben King grew up in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and went to the University of Virginia, where he received a B.A. in Classics. Later, at Princeton University, he wrote a dissertation on the Histories of Herodotus and earned a Ph.D., also in Classics. In 1997, Ben accepted a position as a lecturer at UCR and moved to Riverside, where he has taught Ancient Greek and Latin language and literature ever since. His research interests include Homeric epic, ancient historiography, and classical philosophy. He is also an avid fan of karaoke and has hosted karaoke nights at various venues in Long Beach, CA over the last twenty-some years.