Pompeii

The Life of a Roman Town

Professor Mary Beard

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Paperback

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English

Profile
01 October 2009

History; European history; Ancient history: to c 500 CE

Pompeii explodes a number of myths - from the very date of the eruption, probably a few months later than usually thought; the hygiene of the baths which must have been hotbeds of germs; and the legendary number of brothels, most likely only one, to the massive death count which was probably less than ten per cent of the population. Street Life, Earning a Living: Baker, Banker and Garum Maker (who ran the city), The Pleasure of the Body: Food, Wine, Sex and Baths, these chapter headings give a surprising insight into the workings of a Roman town. At the Suburban Baths we go from communal bathing to hygiene to erotica. A fast-food joint on the Via dell' Abbondanza introduces food and drink and diets and street life. These are just a few of the strands that make up an extraordinary and involving portrait of an ancient town, its life and its continuing re-discovery, by Britain's leading classicist.

By: Professor Mary Beard
Imprint: Profile
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 196mm, Width: 128mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 328g
ISBN: 9781861975966
ISBN 10: 1861975961
Pages: 416
Publication Date: 01 October 2009
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Mary Beard is a Professor of Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge. Her books include The Parthenon and The Colosseum (with Keith Hopkins), and the recent The Roman Triumph. She lives in Cambridge.

Reviews for Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town

'Much of what you think you know about Pompeii may turn out, on reading this eye-opening book, to be wrong. Beard, a professor of classics at Cambridge, always wears her learning lightly, and in this outstanding book she has excelled herself, puncturing preconceptions and exposing a whole layer of myth about the world's best-preserved ancient town. The result is an often gripping piece of detective work that also offers a tantalising window into the reality of daily Roman life.' The Sunday Times History Books of the Year - Andrew Holgate * 'A learned and fascinating book'- Guardian * 'In this brilliant portrait of the life in a Roman town , Mary Beard uses the relics buried by the eruption on AD79 to bring everyday Roman culture alive'- Sunday Times * 'Compelling' - Independent