Amanda
A look at ancient Rome through a day in the life of a gladiator.
This is a well researched and informative book on a wide variety of aspects of ancient Roman life. Although Sidebottom uses gladiators as a focus for the book, he gives information on such topics like diet, hunting, dream interpretation, and time keeping.
There are copious notes and a lengthy bibliography included, which I always consider a good sign in non-fiction works.
Where this book let me down a little was in organization. Or perhaps I should say expectation: The subtitle is <i>A Day in the Life of a Roman Gladiator</i> so I expected gladiators to be the focus of the book, but they're more the lens through which ancient Rome is examined. Not a bad thing, just not what I expected when I started reading.
Received via NetGalley.
A look at ancient Rome through a day in the life of a gladiator.
This is a well researched and informative book on a wide variety of aspects of ancient Roman life. Although Sidebottom uses gladiators as a focus for the book, he gives information on such topics like diet, hunting, dream interpretation, and time keeping.
There are copious notes and a lengthy bibliography included, which I always consider a good sign in non-fiction works.
Where this book let me down a little was in organization. Or perhaps I should say expectation: The subtitle is <i>A Day in the Life of a Roman Gladiator</i> so I expected gladiators to be the focus of the book, but they're more the lens through which ancient Rome is examined. Not a bad thing, just not what I expected when I started reading.
Received via NetGalley.