I have (for something other than script frenzy) a fifteen year old girl living in 16th century Italy who makes her first appearance leaning out of a window reading. Only the other day did I realise the level of absurdity in having a fifteen year old girl in 16th century Italy reading. The lack of realism doesn't bother me (it's not very realistic), and the character is established as quite rich and privileged (it's not a reading peasant in other words), so I decided to make a minor joke out of it by making her a big nerd (funny partially because this character comes off as really stupid- in human interactions she's really stupid).

So now I'm wondering what's something she could potentially have her hands on (I'm thinking classic Greek and Roman texts, but anything's good) that will instantly scream "nerd"? (This is something that needs to scream "nerd" both then and now.) When I asked a friend for suggestions, he suggested War and Peace, which DOES scream nerd, but is unnecessarily anachronistic.

Suggestions? Thank you!

Euclid's "Elements" - his multi-volume work on geometry. Considered one of the great books, part of classical education even today. Although I don't think she'd be thought of as a nerd in her time, maybe "unladylike" or "inappropriate."

I agree, but the play is full of anachronisms and other weirdness (this character's father, for example, is sending her brother off to college...to the University of New Zealand. All the way from Italy. Yep), and most of the other stuff Flaminia does is unladylike and inappropriate too (such as chasing around a captain who is clearly NOT INTERESTED and grabbing his legs and so on). You're right, though.

I love that suggestion, thanks.
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Housman: Homosexuals? Who is responsible for this barbarity?
Chamberlain: What's wrong with it?
Housman: It's half Greek and half Latin!