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holliholtsford's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
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miker1964's review against another edition
3.0
Oh dear. I really wanted to like this but found it irritating beyond belief. It may be that I am not the target audience but it just felt like the author was just trying that bit too hard. I guess she was trying to get down with the kids with a good smattering of ‘fucks’ and ‘shagging’ etc. but it just does not really come off and the whole attempt at being ‘yoof’ just came across as laboured. And this is a shame - at least for me - because in between the fucks and aren’t I cool opinion, there was some really interesting stuff. I guess this is Southon’s schtick and good luck to her. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me and I won’t be back.
alexandraorivard's review against another edition
4.0
listened to audiobook: really well read and funny. wish i had a timeline to ground me and a little more existing knowledge on the roman empire though, think that would have increased the enjoyment for me!
eappov's review against another edition
5.0
MFM meets The Dollop with a dash of your unused History degree.
Absolutely perfect and very accessable for people with little background in ancient Rome
Absolutely perfect and very accessable for people with little background in ancient Rome
gigirs's review against another edition
3.0
A fun and interesting exploration on how Roman culture viewed murder and all of its nuances. I thought this book shined more in its more serious discussions but still enjoyed a lot of the jokes and modern comparisons. As far as the timeline of the Roman Empire it does not really follow it, and so listening to random dates from different periods being thrown around in an audiobook was not the best experience, but it probably does not have the same downside in an actual physical book.
While I enjoyed the humor in this book I did not appreciate when the author would go on and say how a certain history or politics is very dull and we probably wouldn’t want to hear about it, as I think it discredits her own research and education and time spent studying the Roman Empire as well as discredits me the reader, who clearly picked up this book on the culture of murder in the Roman Empire because I care about learning about the Roman Empire, and therefore don’t find the politics dull. We don’t have to pretend, while literally reading a history book, that history is dull and for nerds.
While I enjoyed the humor in this book I did not appreciate when the author would go on and say how a certain history or politics is very dull and we probably wouldn’t want to hear about it, as I think it discredits her own research and education and time spent studying the Roman Empire as well as discredits me the reader, who clearly picked up this book on the culture of murder in the Roman Empire because I care about learning about the Roman Empire, and therefore don’t find the politics dull. We don’t have to pretend, while literally reading a history book, that history is dull and for nerds.
thethreeliving's review against another edition
4.0
Southon's book charts the strange attitudes and customs that Ancient Romans had with murder, chronicling countless murders, killings and executions with light, enjoyable prose. Where the book shines is not during these moments but instead in the slower, more serious sections that reflect on the human tragedy of having a state be so ready and willing to kill so many people.
vonock's review against another edition
funny
informative
This books feels like Horrible Histories for grownups and with a bibliography, which is a lot of fun.