SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard is an instant classic that narrates the history of Rome “with passion and without technical jargon.” It demonstrates how a “slightly shabby Iron Age village” rose to become the “undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean.” Hailed by critics for animating “the grand sweep and the intimate details that bring the distant past vividly to life,” this highly informative work challenges comfortable historical perspectives.

It examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but also delves into class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries.