4.02 AVERAGE

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I honestly think it’s criminal that I’ve taken so long to read this book despite its sitting on my shelf for years - but there is no exaggerating that it was well worth the wait. Mary Beard is the undisputed queen of Roman history and she proved it with this book 👑

To write a history of the first millennium of the Roman Empire is an incredibly ambitious feat, but Beard succeeded wonderfully. SPQR is a fascinating, informative, and lively account of Rome, from its uncertain beginnings to the early third century CE. It not only spans several centuries but a wide breadth of material, and the narrative could easily have become dry and tired, but it never does. Beard’s writing is engaging, her sharp wit and insightful observations shining through, keeping the reader entertained without ever straying from the subject matter. Her discussions are frank and straightforward, based on facts and evidence rather than popular narratives, and the honesty of that was something I very much appreciated. Likewise, I enjoyed her neutral take on the Roman Empire, that it is not something we should see as wholly bad or wholly good. 

Although I came to this book with a background in Classics, I have no doubt this book would be accessible to anyone wishing to delve into Roman history for the first time. It is very much an overview in style, so doesn’t go into the intricate details of episodes such as Julius Caesar’s takeover or Nero’s reign, although context and detail for such events is provided. 

Altogether this was a truly fabulous read. I learned a lot about Roman history and it made me look at things I already knew in a new light. I enjoyed every moment of it!

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An interesting and rather modern approach to ancient Rome, which requires a minimal background from the reader, while at the end one has the impression that "something was left out".
Definitely worth reading even if you nag later like I sometimes do.
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