NetGalley Review: 4 stars
Last updated on 29 Aug 2021
"This is a great little collection of essays that reads like an anthology of magazine columns about the daily lives of ancient Greeks and Romans. I think each topic was inspired by readers' question on a blog site where the author takes on history questions. The book does what it says - covers the events of the "extras" in the Greek and Roman movie, rather than dwelling on the big stars. Some of the chapters read like little stories, others just jump right in with the facts.
If I had to find a nit to pick, sometimes the author seems a little too accepting of ancient sources' literal truth. For example, a text that says so-and-so was eight feet tall is clearly wrong. Other times the author does caveat the ancient claims, and I will admit that saying "allegedly" with every statement would get a little old for the author and for the reader.
Given the large number of short topics, this isn't mean to be read in one or two sittings. This would be good as bathroom reading (no offense, Ryan!) or with more illustrations, as a coffee table book. In fact, that's my other nit There are a few public domain photos here and there, but a second edition could benefit from drawings of the different topics. Certainly there are still graphic artists illustrating books out there. Each chapter needs an illustration. That's the coffee table book I want to see.
I know it isn't this author's specialty, but the next book I want to see is the same kind of treatment of daily life in ancient Egypt."--Pablo Rodriguez, consumer reviewer
