Books : Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day: A Guide to Sightseeing, Shopping and Survival in the City of the Caesars

Rating: - A Gem of a book!
What a quirky little book! I discovered it quite by accident but what a find. It basically tells you what to expect if you had the ability to travel back in time and found yourself a tourist in Ancient Rome. Based around AD200 but the author has borrowed from sources ranging over 300 years. It gives you an informative guide at every stage of your journey from getting there to eating out, where to stay, shopping and what sights every tourist ought to see and avoid! The book has lots of quotes from the likes of Cicero, Horace and Petronius but perhaps most amusing of all is the pages of useful phrases. The author has taken modern phrases and translated them into Latin - In hac tunica obesa videbor? This book should appeal to history buffs and travellers alike and anyone who has ever wished they could travel back in time to see what Ancient Rome was really like.

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Rating: - Carpe librum!
A librarian from Long Island sent this to me as a birthday present (thanks, Nephele) and I love it! With sections on Getting There, The Environs of Rome, Settling In, Out and About, Shopping, Law and Order, Entertainment, Religion, Must-See Sights and Roman Walks, it is accurate and fun. I especially like the quotes from Latin primary sources sprinkled here and there, and the sidebars with fun facts relating to each section. There are also some great full colour CGI illustrations of 2nd century Rome by my pals at Altair.

This book would make a great 'Vade Mecum' for anyone travelling to Rome and a great resource for any secondary-school classroom.

Carpe librum!