Customer Reviews

The Bloody Funny History of Rome

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I've immersed myself in this subject, plowing through books good and ill. Some books are frothy, some give you the feeling of slogging uhphill through mud. Some are scholarly, some try to be, some dense enough to give new shading to the meaning of dense. I've read the Neighborhoods of Augustan Rome, Sallust, Dionysios of H, Cicero, Dio Cassius, the Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, books about the Seven Hills, Tacitus (do I sound like I'm showing off here???) ...and never, NEVER have I been educated so charmingly; that is, when I wasn't convulsed with laughter because convulsions are not always so charming.

You know, they say that men and women have differing senses of humors, and they could be right. For instance, I simply don't get the Stooges (unless fronted by Iggy Pop.) Brett Clark's book seems to disprove that theory, because everyone I know who has perused, gender aside, loves this work. I know it caused me to laugh out loud several times and that hardly ever happens. Or maybe even never.

This book is likened to the Cartoon Histories; my son is a big fan and so I've read several. Sorry guys, but this is funnier. And so spot on- no slippery slopes of sloppy scholarship here!

If you love ancient Rome, if you want to love ancient Rome, if you just need some laughter in your life, buy this book. I'm ordering my second copy now.

Who says history can't be fun? This is a delightful romp through Roman history by someone who not only knows his history but has the wickedest sense of humor around.

Anyone who wants to have fun and learn some history should buy this book. Hell, buy several copies and give them to friends.


*OK, Yer Straboness, do I get a kickback for a good review?*