Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide (Oxford Archaeological Guides)

Amazon.com

The city of Rome is the largest archeological site in the world. If your idea of a good Roman holiday is uncovering the archeological mysteries of the Roman Empire, then Oxford Archeological Guides: Rome is your ideal guidebook.

For such a detailed guide, this book is remarkably readable. Of the Field of Mars (Campus Martius), Claridge writes,

It is the one part of Rome which continued to be quite densely inhabited after the C9 AD, becoming the center of the late medieval and Renaissance city, and is still densely inhabited today, an extraordinary blend of past and present even for Rome. The Stock Exchange occupies a Roman temple, the boiler-rooms of the offices of the Senate are set in the ruins of Roman thermal baths, a modern theatre nestles in the shell of a Roman theatre. Many of the streets are on the lines of ancient streets, and the walls of the buildings on either side of them are often balanced directly on top of Roman walls.

Among this Oxford guide's special features are 200 site plans, maps, diagrams, and photographs; a cultural and historical overview; a chronological overview; and a glossary of essential terms. It uses star ratings to help you plan your days and divides Rome into 12 main areas: the Roman Forum, Upper Via Sacra, Palatine Hill, Imperial Forums, Campus Martius, Capitoline Hill, Circus Flaminius to Circus Maximus, Colosseum Valley and Esquiline Hill, Caelian Hill and the Via Appia, other sites, museums, and catacombs.

Shaded sidebars add anecdotal interest, covering issues such as the Seven Hills, Jupiter's Dining Room, Tomb of Bibulus, the "Province" Reliefs, Madam Lucretia, Nero's New Palace, and Gladiatorial Shows. --Kathryn True

Book Description

Capital and showcase of the Roman Empire and the center of Christian Europe, the city of Rome is the largest archaeological site in the world. Here, Amanda Claridge presents an indispensable guide to all significant monuments in Rome dating from 800 BC to 600 AD. Included are such
breathtaking structures as the Capitoline Hill, the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the Mausoleums of Augustus and Hadrian, the Circus Maximus, and the Catacombs.
Divided into twelve main archaeological areas in central Rome, and four in Greater Rome, this accessible guide provides a detailed overview of the sites, as well as historical reference tables listing archaeological periods, emperors, and principal surviving buildings. The introduction offers an
assessment of Roman achievement along with its status as the capital of the Roman Empire, and explains Rome's survival as the world's most complex archaeological site.

Customer Reviews:

If you're wondering what all of those ruins are in Rome, this is fantastic!.......2007-09-24

I took this book, along with a plethora of touristy guidebooks, and this one got read the most! We spent hours and hours in the Forum and the Palatine, and really delighted in uncovering the mysteries of so many building foundations. I left Rome wishing I had an archaeologist as a personal tour guide, but this book was an excellent substitution! It can be read at home, but I found infinitely more meaning when I sat at the site and read about where I was. Take this to Rome if you are interested in the ancients!

None better........2007-09-09

I had the fortune or misfortune of buying this book prior to my first visit to Rome. It is such a well-organized, well-written, and concise guide to ancient Rome that you could make the mistake that I made upon completing it and my first visits there. You might search a long, long time and spend a lot of money trying to find something better. Based upon my experience, a university-level seminar or a three semester hour course is the only thing that could surpass this guide.

Don't be put off by simplified plans shown in the pages. You need clear, simple ideas of what the stuff once was to understand what you're looking at. When you're in the ruins, you will be surrounded by other tourists, any changing weather conditions, and you will be viewing the architectural remains of a previous civilization from many different standpoints. You can't do that successfully without a clear, simple concept already in your mind.

Fodor's Holy Rome, 1st Edition: A Millennium Guide to Christian Sights (Fodor's Holy Rome)

The perfect companion when touring Rome.......2007-04-05

You can't really understand Rome without this companion. It looks deeply into the very heart of the city, into its foundations and the stories they tell. This is practical archaelology at its best, presenting us with the lessons that history can teach us.

Invaluable.......2006-12-15

I used this book for my second trip to Rome and it was absolutely invaluable. I wish that I had it for my first trip. I am a person who only cares about the Ancient Roman artifacts and this book literally has ever one listed by region that you have access to. If you decide to use this book bring along a highlighter and check off the sections that you complete, by the end of the day you will be amazed at how much you have seen. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Excellent Guide to Ancient Rome.......2006-05-10

I just returned from Rome, using this book as my primary guide. We were able to identify almost every random bit of ancient archaelogy sticking out of the ground as we walked about the city, and if you've been to Rome, you'll understand how impressive that is.

A major shortcoming that I noticed is that the book treats the ancient-era churches very lightly: while the myths of gods such as Pollux and Castor are frequently referenced in relation to the ancient sites, the C1 AD story of Saint Clement is inexplicably left out of the section on the church of San Clemente constructed by Constantine. Also, as the author states in the beginning, the intent of this guide is to detail ancient Rome only. If you are interested in medieval, Renaissance, or ecclessiastic history, you will certainly need a supplemental guide.

Now, for the advantages... The guide systematically presents every ancient structure in Rome (we were never disappointed), providing a very good map at the beginning of each chapter for a major area (e.g. the Palatine, Field of Mars) to help you identify what you are looking at. The site is laid out in a sort of walking tour format and if you begin at the point suggested, you can follow the chapter page by page as it logically guides you through the region. We did find that writing in page references for each location on the map at the beginning made the book much easier to use. For more complicated buildings, additional diagrams are provided in the appropriate subsection where it is further detailed. The Baths of Caracalla are a superb example of this.

While Claridge delves a bit too thoroughly into the exact type of marble used in the facing and floors of each building, you find yourself recognizing the materials and envisioning the baths, basillicas, and forums as they might have looked clad in Phyrgian red and Numidian yellow marbles. With frequent referencing, we soon became familiar with Caracella, Domitian, and Nerva as we viewed the great construction projects they enacted. The author presents quite clearly the historical origin and significance of each site as well as its original appearance (if known) and the many refurbishments it went through with the frequent fires of Rome.

For our trip, we opted out of taking any tours, and we didn't feel we missed anything. We were often surrounded by tours and gained more information from our book than the guide was sharing with his group. You never know how reliable a guide really is, and with this book, you can be assured of Amanda Claridge's credentials. The trip became a bit of a mystery adventure for us as we excitedly reconstructed the ruins around us into the elegant structures they once were.

Even if you do decide to go with a more mainstream guide book for your trip to Rome, you will find this one to be an invaluable supplement for all those tidbits that the major guides just don't have time to cover.

Ancient Rome: Monuments Past and Present

Average customer rating:

Rome than and now
Time machine
Good Book
You Won't Regret
best little book on rome

Ancient Rome: Monuments Past and Present
R. A. Staccioli
Manufacturer: Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Rome | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Ancient Greece: The Famous Monuments Past and Present
Italy: Monuments of Past and Present (Monuments Past and Present)
Christian Rome: Past and Present: Early Christian Rome Catacombs and Basilicas
Rome Then and Now (Then & Now)
Frommer's Athens Past & Present

ASIN: 8881620308

Book Description

[series copy]
The Monuments Past and Present series explores the ancient regions of Rome, Greece, and Pompeii with an eye toward contrasting what they were with what they are today. Important monuments and districts are presented with overlays that clearly depict how these notable ancient sites look today and how
they may have appeared when first built. These titles are excellent resources for travelers, students, and anyone else interested in the fascinating histories of these ancient regions.
Beginning with the Colosseum, the symbol of "The Eternal City," this volume explores twenty-four significant ancient landmarks such as the Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, the Pantheon, and the Appain Way.

Customer Reviews:

Rome than and now.......2007-04-09

Great book
love to see rome then and now
makes history come alive

Time machine.......2007-03-25

This book uses overlays to show what Ancient Rome looked like when everything was new and in good shape. Then, you can flip the overlay and see how things look now. I always wondered how things looked then and wished I had a time machine to go back to those days. This book is the second-best thing to a time machine. The artists have done a great job of reconstructing the famous buildings, forums and temples. The book is well worth the money and is less expensive from Amazon than buying it in Rome.

Good Book.......2006-11-10

This is a great book but way too expensive. I could have bought the exact book in Rome for less than half the price from a vendor at the Colosseum but decided to wait until I got home.

You Won't Regret.......2004-01-22

You definitely won't regret buying this book. It has interesting historical information as well as pictures on what is Rome all about. It helps a lot to see what the places looked like when they was first built, and what is left of them today. I think the price for this book is a little steep. I mean considering that when I was in Rome in September 2003 it was sold right by the calcium for 10 euros. So you be the judge. But over all, from most of the books that were sold around this one left the most impression.

best little book on rome.......2001-03-31

I purchased a pocket size copy of this book in Rome on holiday It was great help to understand what we were looking at and we could see how it did look in the past. When we got home it was great helping us understanding and labeling our own pictures. I even included past pictures next to the ones I had taken to complete my own album. It is great when watching our videos and people ask what different buildings are.

Book Description

This book is a unique, eye-opening guide to one of the world’s most magnificent cities, celebrating the special character of Rome’s buildings, fountains, piazzas, streets, and ruins with illuminating insight and irresistible enthusiasm — for the first-time sightseer, the frequent visitor, or the armchair traveler.

Not Built in a Day moves beyond the names, dates, and statistics of the traditional guidebook to provide a loving, personal, and instructive analysis of the architectural pleasures of Rome. Twelve walking tours profile some two hundred sites within Rome’s ancient walls, all described in prose that is fresh, witty, and discerning. From the largest piazza down to the smallest fountain, George H. Sullivan’s essays explore the city with an engagingly appraising eye, enabling readers to see exactly what makes the architecture of Rome so important and so memorable. Sophisticated enough for those well versed in architecture, yet written in language accessible to all readers, this extraordinary guide is a deeply felt homage to Rome and its fascinating two-thousand-year history.

In addition to detailed maps for the twelve walking tours, this wonderful edition comes illustrated with classical etchings.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Guidebook!.......2007-10-15

George Sullivan's "Not Built in a Day" is a unique and wonderful combination of scholarly knowledge, art, passion, and wit. The author recently gave a series of slide lectures at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. based upon the material in the book, which I attended. His lectures were exceptional -- insightful and enjoyable, a college-level crash course on the history of European architecture that was set entirely in Rome! He really made the buildings come alive through his enthusiasm and humor; I especially liked that he not only had definite opinions on buildings, but also explained clearly what architectural qualities those opinions were based on. This same in-depth but accessible approach can be found in the book, which is unlike any other guide to Rome that I have seen. I would enthusiastically recommend it if you are going to Rome, and if the lectures show up at a museum near you in the future, I would enthusiastically recommend them as well.

Not Built in a Day: Exploring the Architecture of Rome.......2007-07-20

This remarkable book is a must read if you are planning your own itinerary in Rome. The author's love of Rome and its Architecture are apparent from the first page. He organizes the overwhelming amount of information into compact and readable units. Pick a time period or Architectural style of interest and follow the detailed path laid out by the author. The added information of the art to see inside each structure makes this the only "guide" book to Art & Architecture that you will need on your visit to Rome.

What every guidebook should be.......2007-07-15

Not Build in a Day blends astute architectural observation with basic guidebook practicality. The descriptions combine detail and relevant explanation to make the most lay-person feel expert as they dissect the infinite elements in a church, piazza, or palazzo. For anyone who's been to Rome, the inexorable shuttling between sites makes you numb to the city's splendor, but Not Built in a Day constantly re-orients and reminds the reader that every site contains an element of architectural, historical, or civic wonder that makes the non-stop walking completely worthwhile.

The book's walking tours can be strictly followed (I completed tours 1,2, and 7 without any diversions), but once I had a better feel for the city, I picked specific places that I wanted to see and then read the appropriate entry.

Every guidebook should aspire to be Not Built in a Day

A superb guide to Rome.......2007-01-10

This is a well written and well organized guide to Rome. I found Mr.Sullivan's book to be both educational and extremely enjoyable. This book contributed to four fascinating days in Rome last September, and I would not consider going back to Rome without it. There were so many times that the text helped me to notice things that I would have otherwise overlooked. I hlghly recommend this guide.

From Amos Elon.......2006-08-20

This memorable, witty and discerning new guide to Rome -- a city caught "like an old man" in memories, delusions and dreams --evokes the special character, history and attraction of the marvelous piazzas along with the ancient, renaissance and baroque palazzos. Sophisticated and informative, it sharpens your eye and mind; it is what lovers of Rome have been waiting for. Don't miss it for your next to Rome.... Amos Elon

Rome Explorations: The Ancient Rome Walking Tour

Average customer rating:

For the discerning traveller...
A diamond in the ruff

Rome Explorations: The Ancient Rome Walking Tour
Alan Zeleznikar
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Rome Explorations: The Early Christian Rome Walking Tour
Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide (Oxford Archaeological Guides)
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ASIN: 1553697626
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Product Description

A self-guided walking tour guide of the important and interesting ancient Roman monuments in the city of Rome, Italy.

Customer Reviews:

For the discerning traveller..........2006-07-07

This is a fine book that delves into a subject that is usually just a side bar in the more comprehensive travel guides. For the interested traveller, this walking tour is an invigorating and enlightening experience. Recommended.

A diamond in the ruff.......2004-11-25

I was planning my first trip to Rome and had a huge interest in Ancient Roman History but all of the travel books that I looked at had sparse information on Ancient Roman society and landmarks. Luckily I came across this book on amazon.com. I spent a full four days following the tour in this book along with traveling to some of the extras that are listed in the back of the book. It was an excellent tour and not only did it give my girlfriend and I a ton of exercise it also allowed us to take in the overall feel of each section of the city that we journeyed through while following the books directions. On top of that it actually created interest in history from my girlfriend which is rare in itself. I strongly suggest this book to anyone who is going to Rome and wishes to take in the grandeur of the Roman Empire. As an added bonus the book lists the author's e-mail address which I used to write him a letter after completing my trip. He is extremely responsive to everything I said about his book and would enjoy talking to anyone with an interest in Rome. A definete 5 star product.

The Seven Hills of Rome: A Geological Tour of the Eternal City

Average customer rating:

original
Sadly, a missed opportunity

The Seven Hills of Rome: A Geological Tour of the Eternal City
Grant Heiken , Renato Funiciello , and Donatella de Rita
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Rome | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Rome from the Ground Up (From the Ground Up)
The Secrets of Rome: Love and Death in the Eternal City
Rome Alive: A Source-Guide to the Ancient City, Vol. 1
Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide (Oxford Archaeological Guides)
Italian Volcanoes (Classic Geology in Europe)

ASIN: 0691130388

Book Description

From humble beginnings, Rome became perhaps the greatest intercontinental power in the world. Why did this historic city become so much more influential than its neighbor, nearby Latium, which was peopled by more or less the same stock? Over the years, historians, political analysts, and sociologists have discussed this question ad infinitum, without considering one underlying factor that led to the rise of Rome--the geology now hidden by the modern city.

This book demonstrates the important link between the history of Rome and its geologic setting in a lively, fact-filled narrative sure to interest geology and history buffs and travelers alike. The authors point out that Rome possessed many geographic advantages over surrounding areas: proximity to a major river with access to the sea, plateaus for protection, nearby sources of building materials, and most significantly, clean drinking water from springs in the Apennines. Even the resiliency of Rome's architecture and the stability of life on its hills are underscored by the city's geologic framework.

If carried along with a good city map, this book will expand the understanding of travelers who explore the eternal city's streets. Chapters are arranged geographically, based on each of the seven hills, the Tiber floodplain, ancient creeks that dissected the plateau, and ridges that rise above the right bank. As an added bonus, the last chapter consists of three field trips around the center of Rome, which can be enjoyed on foot or by using public transportation.

Customer Reviews:

original.......2007-10-03

Original in many ways, it offers the accomplished tourist with an enrichment from a perspective that other guidebooks do not offer. Much has to be said about the materials of construction used for the Servian Walls, the bases of temples and columns, the marble columns of churches, the flooring of streets, roads, and churches. It exposes the source location of such building materials, its use, and the effect of its use through out the ages.

Sure, the photographs are not of first quality, but for a paperback of $15, they are good enough (pushing for color would have doubled the book price). Yet, some of the photographs are original, like the ones at the quarries. Also, the sinkhole diagrams are original, not even the local newspaper graphics department thought of that.

The author could have mentioned some other interesting facts (but didn't), like the Justice Department building ("Palazzaccio"), built with heavy travertine stone on a clay foundation, and the 1980 earthquake in Southern Italy which had a muffled effect in Rome due to the clay foundation.

Sadly, a missed opportunity .......2006-05-04

This should have been a wonderful book.
Instead it deeply flawed by very bad writing.
The narrative is about as exciting as a glass
of cold spit and the sentence construction
reads as if it came from the pen of a sixth
grader who slept through English class.

On top of an impenetrable writing style the many
photographs are all black and white, even when
colour photographs or art work would have
been better (the line draws are wonderful for
the most part, clearly showing essential
material).

The photographs further suffer
from poor quality/composition. For example
the photo’s on page 6, 8 and 9 showing the
Trevi Fountain at different scales are useless
without a magnifying glass, and a photo
interpreter’s loop would be even better.
Page 57 shows a sink hole that could be
from any part of the world and simply takes
up space to no real effect. Again and again
the photographs either add nothing to the
readers ability to understand the narrative or
indeed take away from the book.

1) page 91, the “church of San Vitate”
according to the legend it’s surrounded
by “debris. . .accumulated since medieval times”
But from the picture it looks like a fast food
restaurant under construction.

2) page 93, a picture of “Monte Testaccio”
which shows a grassy mound with bits of crumbling
masonry and a fence that could be Monte Testaccio
or could be a grassy mound in NJ.

3) p112, caption “you can see evidence of the gradual
slumping movement in the curved trunks of trees.”
No, you can’t, or at least I can’t. It’s a picture of
trees and brush that could be almost anywhere in the world.
IF the reader looks very carefully they may see a tiny road
sign in the background that, with a bit of imagination, might
seem to show the curve of the trees. Or might not.

4) Page 115, a big hole in the ground with an earth mover.
The picture quality is almost good enough to make out the
strata. Almost.

5) Page 128, a riveting picture of what is supposed to be
the “modern travertine quarry, Bagni di Tivoli . . .” Looks
like a broken wall, with rubble and another earth mover that
could have been taken at a construction site in Idaho.

Fortunately I got this from the library. A book worth
adding to your personal library, but not at retail price.
I’m going to wait and buy my copy from the bargain bin at
$5.00 or better yet, $0.99.

Your Travel Guide to Ancient Rome (Passport to History)

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Your Travel Guide to Ancient Rome (Passport to History)
Rita J. Markel
Manufacturer: Lerner Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Ancient Rome (DK Eyewitness Books)

ASIN: 0822530716

Average customer rating:

Pompeii Book is Enlightening
A great book..

Pompeii: Monuments Past and Present
A. de Franciscus
Manufacturer: Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Ancient Rome: Monuments Past and Present
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Christian Rome: Past and Present: Early Christian Rome Catacombs and Basilicas

ASIN: 8881620758

Book Description

A look at this fabled city--buried beneath a rain of ash and cinder during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD--includes the Porta Marina, one of the best preserved gates to the city, as well as the Forum, tmple of Apollo, and several public walkways and private villas.

Customer Reviews:

Pompeii Book is Enlightening.......2007-02-22

I visited Pompeii in 2006 and it was an amazing experience. At the time, I was reluctant to buy any of the books they had on-site and add extra weight to my travel bags, but was hoping to find this particular book when I got home--and was very happy to find it. Seeing Pompeii restored thru the "magic" of the overlay illustrations really brings the history of this wonderful old city to life. No matter how good your guide might be in Pompeii, it is hard to imagine the splendor of the city when faced with the incomplete excavated remains. I would highly recommend it to anyone before or after seeing Pompeii in real life. It would also make a great addition to the classroom in teaching about the ancient Mediterranean peoples.

A great book.........2000-03-28

I just returned from Pompeii last night and purchased this book. It has very useful information about the city, along with pictures of what each exhibit looks like now. Over each picture is a transparent sheet which shows what it looked like then. It was very, very interesting to see the difference between the present and what it was like before Mt. Vesuvius covered the ancient city. This book is very interesting for anyone seeking to learn about the city in a fun way. Also, it is similar and equally as interesting as Ancient Rome: Monuments past and present.

Roman Remains of Southern France: A Guide Book

Average customer rating:

For the "Romano-phile" in Southern France Only
scholarly but readable
One of a kind!
One of a kind!

Roman Remains of Southern France: A Guide Book
James Bromwich
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Southern France: An Oxford Archaeological Guide (Oxford Archaeological Guides)
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ASIN: 0415143586

Book Description

This is the first comprehensive guide book in English devoted to the Roman remains of southern France. The book embraces Province, the Riviera and Languedoc-Roussillon from the Alps to the Pyrenees. It ranges from sites such as the extensive Roman remains at Vienne in the Rhone valley, the great aqueduct of Pont du Gard, the beautiful ruined temple of Vernegues, to the striking museum collections of Arles and Avignon. The book is easy to use, with a large number of maps, site plans and photographs and it will enable the traveller to explore the major cultural contribution made by the Romans to this part of France.

Customer Reviews:

For the "Romano-phile" in Southern France Only.......2007-05-31

If you are interested in Roman history, and plan to travel to southern France, this book might interest you, otherwise look no further.

The subject matter is narrow in scope, and rarely is their a diversion in text. Southern France (note Lyon is not included) is saturated in Roman ruins, and untangling the more interesting from the less is a challenge this book helps to navigate.

The maps can be hard to follow when visiting sites. The terminology is at times quite technical (ie. in describing elements of architecture). The emphasis is specifically on the existing ruins and less on the history of the sites reviewed.

This book did help me organize my visit to southern France. I know of no other book on this subject. It took 6 weeks to receive it from an Amazon associated seller, presumably because it is such a rare book.

scholarly but readable.......2004-07-08

This book proved to be most useful when I was planning a recent trip to Provence. I took it with me and found it to be a wonderful companion guide. The author clearly has a deep knowledge of the subject. Along with his descriptions of the various sites I especially liked his digressions into subjects like Roman theater and spectacles. I think some of the discussions of small local museums could have been cut and the photographs should be of better quality. Also the maps could be adapted for the general reader. Something to think about if they publish another edition. That said, if you are interested in the ancient Roman remains of Southern France, this is the book to have.

One of a kind!.......2003-04-12

This book came highly recommended on various chat and message boards for fans of Southern France. I totally understand why. As the South of France and Riviera was a tremendously wealthy Roman area, it is literally full of some of the best ruins and museums devoted to the glory that was Rome to be found anywhere outside of Rome. However, while the Roman areas of Italy are extensively documnted, there is very little on sites in France. This book is the only and best guide to those remains.

This book reviews unearthed Roman towns, such as Vaison La Romain which is 2nd in the world to Pompeii in terms of intact towns. It maps out both the town itself, and also the layouts of many of the larger mansions that are partially standing, along with various anecdotes about the ruins.

This book reviews of course, the larger aqueducts, theaters, forums, and the like, with startling amounts of backround information on each, but this book finds many items of interest that are completely off the radar screen, such as chasms carved into rock that brought the water to towns, old Roman pipework, roadside monuments in the middle of nowhere, the best places at which to examine the old Roman roads, etc.

I have used this book on two trips to the region, and find it amazing. Even at the larger, marked, and serviced monuments, this book can take you just a little farther up the hill, or put what you are examining in a certain perspective so as to get 'the rest of the story' as Paul Harvey says.

This is an amazingly god book, for the intrepid traveler, the armchair archaelogist, and the itinerant tourist. Pick it UP!

One of a kind!.......2003-04-12

Book Description

A celebration of the character and style of one of the world's most spectacular cities! This vibrant insider's view of the most mature city on earth is the perfect companion for anyone who loves anything Italian. In 1995, after a twenty-year love affair with Italy, Alan Epstein fulfilled his dream to live in Rome. In As the Romans Do, he celebrates the spirit of this stylish, dramatic, ancient city that formed the hub of a far-flung empire and introduced the Mediterranean culture to the rest of the world. He also reveals today's Roman men and women in all their appealing contradictions: their gregarious caffe culture; inborn artistic flair; passionate appreciation of good food; instinctive mistrust of technology; showy sex appeal; ingrained charm and expressiveness; surprisingly unusual attitudes toward marriage and religion; and much, much more.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining, Light.......2006-09-10

I agree with a lot of the other reviewers in that the author obviously finds himself delightful. His ego seeps through the pages to the point where I was rolling my eyes in exasperation at him. You can just imagine him jumping up and down screaming "Look at me! Look at me! Aren't I awesome, I live in Rome!" His ego comes across in his pointless name dropping (the story could have been told without naming his friends and he would have come off the better for it), and his sections about how desirable his wife and him can be to Romans who just love to flirt. (Please.)

The book is entertaining and he obviously loves the city and it shows in his colorful, lively interpretation of it. However, as others have mentioned, he just skims the surface, never bothering to delve deeper. At one point he has a blurb mentioning that when they were away from Rome they had heard how expensive it had gotten. He further states that they sure found out just how expensive when they came back. BUT he never bothers to explain how expensive and what they experienced!!! (Hello? Don't lead us on and then not bother with an explanation.)

His constant obsession throughout the book with la bella figura wore thin after the one millionth time he mentioned how amazing Roman women are. (Can we say stereotype?) I'm sure they are amazing, but I find it really hard to believe that every woman in Rome is always dressed to the nines. I would really like to read an honest portrayal of the women.

His chapter on how seductive and flirtatious that city was really had my eyes rolling. Why does he need to describe a woman's chest bouncing away in her car? I know it was to demonstrate sexyiness of the city, but come on, does he need to describe this for pages? (I don't take issue with this b/c it offends my sensabilities...I just thought it was very silly.) He reminds me of guys who think if a girl merely glances at him than that must mean she likes him.

Furthermore in the first part of the book he states how untrustworthy Roman workers are and how you should never leave them around your stuff. (And how first floor apartments can be very unsafe b/c they are always robbed.) But throughout the book he keeps mentioning how crime is very low in Rome, bla bla how Romans never commit crime. Uh...maybe his editor should have picked up on these inconsistencies.

All in all I don't hate this book, but the author's obnoxiousness and his superficial look at Rome detracted from my enjoyment. I would recommend this book in ADDITION to another more in depth coverage of the city.

a half-excellent book.......2004-10-23

I agree with Veerby's assessment - the first half is a fun, engaging read, but after that, you wonder if there is anything bad about Rome in the least. It's great with all the men being mama's boys and women making themselves up to go to the grocer and the traffic jams and everything. I was actually surprised when he mentioned how Rome is not perfect and has its flaws in the last chapter, but he failed to elaborate in the least, aside from mentioning that many immigrants have come whose customs are different than that of the Romans, insinuating that they also brought crime with them. i would much prefer a more even-handed read, and preferably from someone who is not as obviously well-off. It makes me think of New York City, where having a little money makes the city a MUCH nicer place to live, mainly from being able to afford a nice neighborhood to live in.

Enough already!.......2002-05-08

I quickly got absorbed in the first half or so of this book. The author's delight in his adopted city is contagious, and apart from falling into the occasional cliche and tendency to name-drop, he's an engaging writer. But eventually it cloys. Please, let's hear something--anything--to indicate that Rome is not paradise, because no place is paradise. The absence of a single negative note gets to be monotonous and annoying--and suspect. (You get the feeling that his publisher gave him his marching orders, instructing him to offer kudos and nothing but. Or else that Epstein lives in a fantasy, averting his eyes from anything unpleasant.) By the second half of this book I couldn't shake off the sense that if it were the Roman habit to toss the household garbage out the front window, Epstein's response would be "How charming! What insouciance! Such a devil-may-care approach to life!" I hope in his next book, if there is one, he exhibits a little more candor.

If only life for most people was so easy............2002-01-24

Mr. Epstein obviously has bushels of cash, and plenty of connections with the glitterati. His descriptions of buying a place in Rome, going to dinner parties with his famous personal friends, and his perceptions of la bella figura, etc. are all rather patronizing. While I did enjoy a couple of the chapters, I found that Mr. Epstein's reality in the USA was obviously far different from mine, and so is his reality in Italy. Must be nice to have it all so easy.

Had high hopes for it, but it was a thorough disappointment.......2001-11-11

I do not like Epstein's Rome and I resent having to share my Rome with him. After reading it, I was left with a strong feeling of dislike for the author's viewpoint. Stale and predictable emotions and unsympathetically told. The anecdotes were labored and the language patronizing in the extreme. Thanks anyway, Alan, but I prefer my Rome to yours and I hope our paths never cross. Good luck with the guiding business - there are certainly fellow New Yorkers who'll need your spurious "insights" into Italian culture.

Subterranean Rome: Catacombs, Baths, Temples (Art & Architecture)

Average customer rating:

A+ IN ENGINEERING!
Intriguing and amazing information and photos.

Subterranean Rome: Catacombs, Baths, Temples (Art & Architecture)
Portella Ivana Della
Manufacturer: Konemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Rome | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 3829021208

Customer Reviews:

A+ IN ENGINEERING!.......2006-03-22

The engineering of these people was amazing. It's awesome how these subterranean structures and buildings can hold the weight of the city above. Reminds me also of Istanbul, which if you are interested in this book, you should check out subterranean Istanbul as well. The pictures in this book are of very good quality and nice and big and colorful. This book is also very explanatory and gives a detailed accounting of the history that happened in each room. I would recommend this title to anyone interested in ancient architecture or even a general history of pagan Rome.

Intriguing and amazing information and photos........2004-02-28

This book is very interesting as far as the information about certain subterranean areas within Rome. The only problem I saw right off was that there is unfortunetly a great deal of repetition in the photos--as if there wasn't enough to photograph of ancient Rome. The author includes, in my opinion, too many pictures of paintings and art on the walls and not enough pictures of the area itself.
All in all, I sincerely recommend this book if you are very interested in Catacombs and other parts of ancient Rome.

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