This is the stand by classic, older work done at least a generation ago. Nonetheless, it remains a delightful romp and a somewhat romantic look at daily life in Rome. He surveys the ordinary life of Romans, their eating, where they ate, bathing, and the practices surrounding the bath. At the same time there is a somewhat high brow tone to the work that seems to cast dispersion on the Romans. His moralizing leads him to conclude that the classic works of Rome display "the sordid and depraved side of Roman life."

Despite the age of the work, this is still a sound beginning point to understand the typical Roman during the Empire. He enjoys displaying the tawdry with copious quotes by Martial, Juvenal, and Trimalchio.

Dry, tough to get through, assumes a fair amount of knowledge.

Originally written before the 2nd World War, this charming look at daily life at the city of Rome covers all aspects including bathing and eating. The author has a moralizing tone: he is imbued with Christian values and what we call nowadays "the protestant work ethic". In the last paragraph of his book he states: "The pictures of Petronius, the Epigrams of Martial, the Satires of Juvenal only too clearly impress upon us all the sordid and depraved side of Roman life...;" and how wonderful it could be when "and above all in those serene "agapes" where the Christians lifted up their hearts in the joy of knowing the divine presence in their midst."

He informs us that the ancients by any standards were lazy, randy, gluttonous and barely employed. The author finds this appalling, however appealing it would be to early 21st century man! Perhaps it's just a little too old, but if you want to know about what was going on in Rome at the height of empire you may wish to start here. Plenty of spicy quotes by Martial, Juvenal and that ultimate nouveau riche Trimalchio--the gods bless his fictitious soul! ( )

I enjoyed some chapters, but in the rest there is much moralizing about the ancient world, and it dates the book's approach to scholarship. The chapters I liked were the first few chapters on Roman houses, the chapter on getting ready in the morning, and the last chapter on eating, strolling and bathing. ( )

Hooray! I finally finished this! I was previewing it to see if it is useful for school. Long, detailed and way more than I needed to know, but not unpleasantly written. The author's viewpoint and opinion is certainly not hidden, which at times is humorous. I think I will keep it for bits and pieces, but neither of my boys would ever read it. ( )