Life in Ancient Rome

Rating:
Summary: A fine introduction to the social history of Ancient Rome.
Review: "Life in Ancient Rome" is a book aimed at a young-adult readership, yet older adults and high-school students alike will also enjoy it as an introductory reference. F. R. Cowell succeeds in colorfully portraying the basic aspects of ancient Roman life from clothesmaking to religious observances. Complemented with photographs and illustrations, the text is clear yet rich in detail, and a chronological summary provides a good outline of the principal events of Roman history from 753 B.C. to A.D. 476. Mr. Cowell also includes excellent references in the book's bibliography (which he simply titles "A Note About Books"). For those interested in studying Roman social history, "Life in Ancient Rome" is a recommended starting point

Rating:
Summary: This book begins where history leaves off
Review: If you are already familiar with Rome, with her institutions, with her laws, with her senate and emperors, and you're looking for more, or if you're just interested in how ordinary, everyday Romans lived, this book is for you.

With superb organization and enjoyable, erudite illustrations throughout, F.R. Cowell introduces the reader to what it was like to grow up in ancient Rome, what education was like, what religion was like, what people ate, how people dressed, how people earned a living, and what they did in their free time. In doing so, he also addresses darker issues like slavery, the Colosseum's blood baths, and mob rule. The reader comes away from this book with a better sense of what it was like to be Roman, but the book is not perfect either.

Sometimes F.R. Cowell's writing style is a bit dry (except when he discusses the legal and medical professions in Rome, and the opening days of the Colosseum, which are superb!), his use of quotes from Roman writers is decent but could have been more plentiful, as could have been his discussion of archaeology.

Overall, however, this is a worthwhile, enjoyable book that will certainly fill in gaps in one's knowledge of the Romans.

Rating:
Summary: Facinating view at ancient Rome in a very readable style.
Review: Life in Ancient Rome was a fascinating book not only for its account of the past, but also its glimpse at the origin of many things in the present. The reader is easily able to link matters of law, culture and language from the distant past to present times. As a reader, one really gets the sense of daily life as well as the Roman value system. The author's style is very readable and enjoyable for young and old readers alike. This book is an excellent read!