SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome


SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard

Covering nearly 1,000 years of Roman history, Mary Beard brings the subject to life. SPQR is a broad modern history covering subjects neglected for centuries and with a detailed understanding of the democratic struggles of Rome.


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.

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Lists Appeared In
The 100 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time
The 100 Best History Books of All Time
100 Excellent History Books Written by Women