avgastright 's review for:

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard

2.0

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Aside from taking seven months off my life, the notable information is that SQPR reads like a Classics 101 textbook. Marvelous overview of Roman history until the third century CE, but lacking the details and—alright—gossip, I was hoping to find when I started it. I can’t be upset. Emblazoned on the cover is “A History of Rome,” and that is EXACTLY what this is. I do think it perhaps a tiny bit presumptuous that it calls itself “an instant classic” though. Wondering which circles would call this 2015 100-level survey textbook a “classic.” 

Looking forward to putting this on the shelf like a stuffed deer head and feeling proud of myself for conquering it.