From the Bookshelf of The History Book Club…

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Mary Beard

Start date: April 17, 2017

Finish date: July 16, 2017

Discussion: ROMAN EMPIRE -THE HISTORY...

Discussion leader: Vicki Cline

Why we're reading this: A sweeping, "magisterial" history of the Roman Empire from one of our foremost classicists shows why Rome…more
[close] A sweeping, "magisterial" history of the Roman Empire from one of our foremost classicists shows why Rome remains "relevant to people many centuries later"(Atlantic)

National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist for General Nonfiction (2015), Waterstones Book of the Year Nominee (2015), Cundill Prize in Historical Literature Nominee (2016), New York Times Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Books of 2015, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2015

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 200 topics — 4,423 comments total

ROMAN EMPIRE -THE HISTORY...

* ROMAN EMPIRE HISTORY SERIES - BOOKS COMPLETED - POLL RESULTS - NEW POLLS - BOOKS BEING DISCUSSED OR PLANNED
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 6 posts · 88 views

last updated Jan 26, 2019 12:11AM

* LIFE IN THE EMPIRE
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 46 posts · 239 views

last updated Aug 17, 2025 10:35AM

showing 7 of 7 topics view all »

Other topics mentioning this book

This topic has been closed to new comments.

ARCHIVE - PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF ~
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 3370 posts · 3964 views

last updated Aug 29, 2019 10:38AM

* ONE - START HERE - 2017 - Readathon Eleven Date: April 8th, 2017 - 8AM to Noon - Check- In - CHECKPOINT ONE - FIRST CHECK IN
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 75 posts · 207 views

last updated Apr 09, 2017 10:09AM

* TWO - 2017 - Readathon Eleven Date: April 8th, 2017 - Noon to 4PM - Check-In - CHECKPOINT TWO - SECOND CHECK IN
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 71 posts · 160 views

last updated Apr 09, 2017 10:09AM

* FOUR - 2017 - Readathon Eleven Date: April 8th, 2017 - 8PM to Midnight - Check - IN - FOURTH CHECK IN
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 43 posts · 37 views

last updated Apr 09, 2017 10:10AM

* SEVEN - CHECK OUT HERE - 2017 - Readathon Eleven - April 8th, 2017 - 8AM ON APRIL 9TH - FINAL CHECKOUT - THIS IS CHECKPOINT SEVEN - WHICH I CHECKOUT - LAST STOP - MANDATORY FOR TOTALS - FINAL TALLIES - MANDATORY CHECKPOINT - ONLY CHECKOUT THREAD
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 38 posts · 46 views

last updated Apr 10, 2017 07:43PM

* PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF ~
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 1408 posts · 2906 views

last updated Sep 10, 2025 07:32AM

ANDREA'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2020
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 429 posts · 910 views

last updated Sep 07, 2025 02:15PM

What Members Thought

Jun 15, 2021 Moses rated it liked it

Shelves: 2021

I've got to say I'm deeply disappointed, and almost didn't finish the book. Beard's book is pedantic, lacks a strong narrative flow, spends too much time trying to explain Roman mores in contemporary language, and is altogether too self-aware. She does not ever fade into the background and let her subjects speak for themselves; she is always there, telling me how "we moderns naturally feel" about Cicero or Catiline.

Is Mary Beard a noted expert on the Romans? Of course. Does Mary Beard actually ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2017 Brigid rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

A clear-eyed examination of what we can actually know about ancient Rome from the historical evidence. Although Mary Beard does cover some incidents in more detail, this is not a narrative history where the past is dressed up and put on show, but rather a peek at where the information is coming from and an evaluation of how much weight we should or shouldn't be giving those sources. I appreciated the even-handed reproach, and her frequent reminders that there are many sides to any story, especia ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 21, 2017 Rod rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Broad and deep history of Rome from its founding to 200 AD.

The author has done her homework in creating a history of Rome: its governance, people, customs, laws,and influence. And all in a single volume. Highly recommended for those who, like I did, wondered what Rome was really like.

Like · see review