Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Prof Beard's SPQR is an excellent social history but not a good introduction to Roman History. She assumes that you have a reasonable grasp of the over arching political course of the empire, especially during the some 200 years of the imperial phase "covered" by this book. I say "covered" as so little is described regarding the political development of the empire. She chose to end her treatise during reign of Caracalla, but this is somewhat arbitrary as any details of his tyranny are given only in passing. She could have chosen to end her work during the reign of Alexander Severus, Commodus, or even Marcus Aurelius with no significant additions or omissions, though she does explain and justify her choice. That being said, it's clear that Prof. Beard did not set out to write a political history of Rome, but to focus on the lives of the average people that lived in the era and to tell, as best as she is able, their stories. Part of her intention in so blithely glossing over the doings of the emperors is to highlight how little effect the political realm had on the lives of ordinary people. This she does very well, despite limited written records as compared to the lives of the wealthy. Beard brings to life how ordinary people sustained themselves, what careers they may have pursued, what they may have hoped for and how they lived. I found all this to be very well told and an aspect of Rome too often glossed over in favor of the more flashy tales of intrigue that pervaded imperial roman politics. However, it needs to be said that Prof. Beard's work is a bit inconsistent in its intent and presentation. The first half dealing with the Republican era delves deeply into the political realm. She tries to highlight social aspects as best as she is able, but the poverty of primary records from that era limits what we can reasonably expect to know. Her lens focuses intently on Julius Caesar (as one would expect), the civil wars that followed, and the reign of Augustus. Tiberius and Caligula get passing mention but the remainder of the period "covered" is dominated by the social history, which again is fascinating and well presented, but the shift in focus is a bit jarring. If you are new to the study of Roman History, I would not recommend this book as its approach to the chronology is too haphazard to do anything other than confuse the neophyte. If, on the other-hand, you have a general sense of the historical narrative and are looking to flesh out your understanding and understand how Romans outside the imperial bubble lived, then you will be very well served by Prof. Beard's work.