SPQR

A History of Ancient Rome

Paperback, 608 pages

Published Sept. 6, 2016 by Liveright Publishing Corporation, Liveright.

ISBN:
978-1-63149-222-8
Copied ISBN!

View on OpenLibrary

(56 reviews)

In SPQR, an instant classic, Mary Beard narrates the history of Rome "with passion and without technical jargon" and demonstrates how "a slightly shabby Iron Age village" rose to become the "undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean" (Wall Street Journal). Hailed by critics as animating "the grand sweep and the intimate details that bring the distant past vividly to life" (Economist) in a way that makes "your hair stand on end" (Christian Science Monitor) and spanning nearly a thousand years of history, this "highly informative, highly readable" (Dallas Morning News) work examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but challenges the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries. With its nuanced attention to class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries, SPQR will to shape our view of Roman history for decades to come.

3 editions

Impresionante divulgación sobre Roma

Creo que puedo decir que es el mejor libro de divulgación que he leído nunca. Sin medias tintas. Una erudición absoluta, una atención al detalle exquisita, atribuyendo correctamente cada dato, y sobre todo, hilando un tema con otro maravillosamente. Es difícil resumir en 600 páginas un milenio de la historia de uno de los temas más trabajados de la antigüedad, pero lo consigue y de qué manera. Entiendo perfectamente que esta sea LA obra de referencia sobre Roma en el día de hoy.

Review of 'SPQR' on 'Goodreads'

I really enjoyed it - I wished it were twice as long!

Particularly I liked the mix of historical narrative and in depth study of the "Roman character" - the thoughts and mind of different segments of society through the history of the Republic and early empire. She humanizes and demythologizes a lot of elements of Ancient Rome that seem taken for granted in the contemporary popular consciousness.

Review of 'SPQR' on 'Goodreads'

A great history of Rome from its supposed inception in the 8th century BCE to the extension of citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire in 212 CE. Professor Beard avoids the part of the story that usually concerns us, its end, and instead discusses the development of the republic and its progression to imperial Rome. (Certainly, our concern for modern parallels is understandable; was Mr. Trump ever called "little boots"?) The author spends considerable time discussing not only what we know, but also how we know it. I found this aspect of the history fascinating, especially how she uses her extensive knowledge to interpret the possible motivations of the great ancient speakers, and why some are preserved and others lost to us. The chapter on the lives of common people is also very good, including, as evidence, Pompeian graffiti and the details of the tombs of various artisans. …

Review of 'SPQR' on 'Storygraph'

This is a 1-volume history of Ancient Rome from its mythical inception to about 200CE (AD). Not exactly sure as I haven't finished yet.
Beard is a scholar of Roman history who has worked on it for about 50 years. The book is very readable and very interesting, while drawing on many recent discoveries that have changed our view of Roman history considerably.
For me, the reason for reading this is to gain a perspective on a very sophisticated civilisation that in some ways led directly to our current western civilisation and, on the other hand, is very different in its ideas to many of our current ideas, especially in the ethical sphere. I find that by looking at how they differ from us, I can see that some of our ideas that are so ingrained that we do not realise we hold them are in fact open to useful …

avatar for bibliotechy

rated it

avatar for ckochx

rated it

avatar for dstokes

rated it

avatar for ChrisShanley

rated it

avatar for joejoh

rated it

avatar for GenericHero

rated it

avatar for MayaAngel82

rated it

avatar for acaleyn

rated it

avatar for arnoud999

rated it

avatar for rrreese

rated it

avatar for SeaJay

rated it

avatar for abelikoff

rated it

avatar for Tolomere

rated it

avatar for piotr

rated it

avatar for kmkrebs

rated it

avatar for CuriousLibrarian

rated it

avatar for nclandrei

rated it

avatar for phoenixashes76

rated it

avatar for SebRollen

rated it

avatar for s_l

rated it

avatar for Shtakser

rated it

avatar for TrygveKalland

rated it

avatar for recri

rated it

avatar for bab

rated it

avatar for RDScally

rated it

avatar for cyclicircuit

rated it

avatar for Christopowers

rated it

avatar for zz

rated it

avatar for pjones

rated it

avatar for thatch_bamblebrush

rated it

avatar for Dezik

rated it

avatar for statori

rated it

avatar for Parenthesis_Liker

rated it

avatar for fakeplastictrees

rated it

avatar for dejangod

rated it

avatar for justanotherrandomuser

rated it

avatar for tlv

rated it

avatar for Ilirwen

rated it

avatar for doctor

rated it

avatar for chadkoh

rated it

avatar for jparise

rated it

avatar for annaraven

rated it

avatar for walker

rated it

avatar for Hyzie

rated it

avatar for doubtshrine

rated it

avatar for Eldaerenth

rated it

avatar for nacho@lectura.social

rated it