Product Description

Here is an informative and entertaining guide to everything that any tourist needs for a journey back in time to ancient Rome in AD 200.You need only pack your imagination and a toothbrush â this guide provides the rest, describing all the best places to stay and shop, what to do, and what to avoid. Brought to life with wonderful computer-generated reconstructions of ancient Rome, this highly original, witty book will appeal to tourists, armchair travellers and history buffs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28618 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

The Observer: Review
'Matyszak imparts so much information so imaginatively that it would be a great thing if his success inspires an entire... series...'

The Times Literary Supplement
'Performs the functions of all the best guides... vast amount of easily retrieved information... an excellent introduction to Roman life'

About the Author
Philip Matyszak is the author of numerous books on the Roman world, including Chronicle of the Roman Republic, The Enemies of Rome and The Sons of Caesar, all published by Thames & Hudson.

Customer Reviews

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.

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!

Brilliant!
This is a gem of a book! Witty, engrossing and erudite (It taught me more of the geography of ancient Rome than any other "general" overview I have read.
The author has managed to blend all the various changes from the early republic to late empire into one coherent overview of life in Rome. Simply a must buy book.