Despite struggling with the usual problem with Roman History - the sheer number of characters to try and recall, I enjoyed Duncan’s eminently readable focus on the period when the Roman Republic first started to shred - culminating in the first Civil War.
I did however yearn at times for a history that was even more focused, so that rather than rushing through Sulla’s wars in Asia or Gaius Marius’ defeat of the Teutons and Cimbrans, a more in depth study could be made of them. For example, how the wars with Jugartha were described.
Also, isn’t it past the time to stop quoting obviously invented numbers of the dead in each battle? It’s a wonder there was anyone left, if you added them all up and considered the impact on the ability for people to grow food and make children for the future!