SPQR: An In-Depth Look at the History of Ancient Rome

Sue: A really hard to read book

United Kingdom on Nov 23, 2023

Richie Real Estate Broker: What type of history? I wanted to know more about their warring details which this went into but not enough. Lots of players over the decades and centuries here too. It is a good read for the historian

United States on Nov 21, 2023

Kindle Customer: Brilliant insights , gives you a real picture of how life in Rome 'worked' but never claims infallibility. Serious, humourous, an enthralling read

United Kingdom on Nov 16, 2023

khetha: A bit slow but illuminating in the first half before we get to the more well-known story of Rome, nevertheless, the action in the first half is an impressive feat of scholarship and research. As the book progresses into the more familiar tales of the Roman Empire, Beard’s narrative picks up pace, weaving a rich tapestry of political intrigue and societal evolution. Her ability to contextualize ancient events and figures within the broader scope of Roman history is commendable, providing insights that are both educational and engaging. The latter half of the book shines a light on iconic figures especially Augustus and his template. The conclusion of ‘SPQR’ reminded me of how long-lasting the debate on citizenship has been.

United States on Nov 11, 2023

Ryan Moore: Well-written and thoroughly researched, this account of the Roman Empire takes you through a more down-to-Earth journey through a regular Roman citizen's experience of life in the original Big City. It fleshed out details if Roman life, rather than just the war stories of political figures. It was good from beginning to end.

United States on Nov 04, 2023

Robert Falter: As a history buff, I found the author's approach and viewpoint to early Roman Republican development and the rise of the empire to be a fascinating read, easy to follow and well worth the time spent.

United States on Oct 20, 2023

Len Rushton: I'm only part-way into the book, but I'm a great fan of Mary Beard's work and I do like to wallow in the mire of that strange society.

United Kingdom on Oct 18, 2023

M. C. Whiting: Mary Beard is up there in terms of current day classicists and her expertise on Ancient Rome makes her the perfect candidate to take on the role of producing a history of Rome for our time.

There is no doubt reading this that Beard really does live and breathe her subject matter and speaks to you as though she was there having conversations with these people. The book is often anecdotal, relatable and humorous. Making history relevant always has been Beard’s underlying quest to determine why history is still so important and how we can relate the past to the present and this book is no exception.

So why 3 stars? The stars awarded are a credit to Beard’s breadth of knowledge. Those parts of the book where you are gripped and the pleasure of being party to her enormous wealth of knowledge on a subject I love.

However, if I were to review this book on the basis of whether it sets out its objectives and satisfies the reader I’m not so sure. One thing that jumps out at you reading this book is that whether or not it is excellently researched or entertaining, it is NOT “a history of Ancient Rome” in terms of what many readers would expect.

For...

United Kingdom on Sep 18, 2020

Anselm: “History is just one damned thing after another”, goes a famous quote. And that’s what many introductory history books sound like: “First this happened, then that happened”. They might go as far as investigating causation (“this happened because that happened”) and even context (“this happened because of these circumstances”). But they don’t take the next step.

I’m currently reading in parallel Michael Burleigh’s book and Richard Evans’ trilogy on the Third Reich. They’re of this type. Now, that’s no criticism. For history that recent, the facts are going to be well-established enough not to warrant discussion in the main text, at least in a book intended for general rather than specialist readership. Sources can be relegated to footnotes for those keen and knowledgeable enough to follow them up. The facts material to, say, Hitler’s assumption of the German Chancellorship in January 1933 are not in dispute, and a lay reader like me is content to assume that the historian has done their homework with the sources, and to get on with following the narrative.

Ancient history is different. There are gaps. That’s also true of modern...

United Kingdom on Aug 18, 2019

T. Graczewski: A ubiquitous commentator on affairs both ancient and domestic in her native Great Britain, Mary Beard is something of an institution. Her latest written work, SPQR, is an interpretive history of ancient Rome aimed at a lay audience. Beard eschews a strictly chronological narrative in favor of a more thematic approach, peppering her history with insights and personal perspectives. It seems to me that any prospective reader should already have a firm grasp on the basics of Roman history, although the litany of awards SPQR has garnered, including New York Times Bestseller status, suggests that many disagree.

Beard begins her history at the dawn of Roman civilization and ends with Emperor Caracalla’s grant of citizenship to everyone living in the empire in 212 AD. She starts by writing that Rome’s seven kings were likely more myth than reality. It is highly unlikely, she says, that just seven men served over the course of 250 years. It is noteworthy, she says, that many of the enduring features of Roman life were introduced by the kings. “Abominated as they were, kings were credited with creating Rome,” Beard writes. For instance, Numa created much of Rome’s religion...

United States on Feb 28, 2019