Customer Reviews

Private Life of the Romans, The

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Harold W. Johnston wrote an easy-to-read survey text on daily Roman life. Particularly suited to students in high school and introductory level college courses, the book clearly and succinctly covers many aspects of Roman civilization. The title is somewhat misleading, as most people would not consider the subject matter "private." The 16 chapters present an overview of family structure, nomenclature/epigraphy, marriage, children and education, slavery, the host-client relationship, the house and its furnishings, clothing, food and meals, games and other amusements, travel and correspondence, occupations, country life, death, religion, and the water supply. Only the chapter on religion is disappointing (and books on Roman religion are not difficult to find). Helpful woodcuts, line drawings, and black and white photographs illustrate the subject matter throughout. Though Johnston introduces many Latin (and a few Greek) terms, his writing remains clear so that even those with no training in the Classics will find the terminology augments rather than detracts from his work.

Scholarship in recent decades has proved some of Johnston's information inaccurate but, on the whole, it still stands. For a more recent review of Roman life, I recommend Leslie and Roy Adkins' Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome (1998).

Despite being decades old, Private Life of the Romans remains a leading source for daily life and customs questions at Latin competitions around the United States, which is probably why it's often on backorder so grab a copy whenever you can!

After reading this book, Roman history seems much more - real. It covers many aspects of the private life of a Roman citizen: The Family, The Name, Marriage and the position of Women, Children and Education, Dependents: Slaves and Clients, The House and Its Furniture, Dress and Personal Ornaments, Food and Meals, Amusements, Travel and Correspondence, Sources of Income and Means of Living, Burial Places and Funeral Ceremonies. Under each of these chapter headings is a list of specific sections and their paragraph numbers. (In the text, the paragraph numbers are placed on the outer edge of the page, so it is easily visible.) There are many illustrations (205, to be exact), which are very helpful, and it is not at all difficult reading.

I ordered two books on Amazon and only received ONE of them, the one being the incorrect book. I was not given the proper information to remedy this and was hoping that upon receiving the other book I would know who to return the first book to...I never received the other book. I paid $17 in total and only got one book. It was a children's book on ancient Rome, not the textbook I had purchased.