24 Hours in Ancient Rome

By: Philip Matyszak

Narrated by: John Telfer

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

Walk a day in a Roman's sandals. What was it like to live in one of the ancient world's most powerful and bustling cities - one that was eight times more densely populated than modern-day New York?

In this entertaining and enlightening guide, best-selling historian Philip Matyszak introduces us to the people who lived and worked there. In each hour of the day, we meet a new character - from emperor to slave girl, gladiator to astrologer, medicine woman to water-clock maker - and discover the fascinating details of their daily lives.

©2017 Philip Matszak (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Fantastic insight into Roman life

I loved SPQR and thought there was no more room for Ancient Rome in my life. But this is the perfect counterbalance to that big sweep of history – it’s insight into what life was actually like, day to day, for Romans. Each chapter is an hour in someone’s company, from nightwatchman to vestal virgin, and they’re brought to life here in wonderful detail. Matyszak is that rare historian who can write with a lightness of touch and humour that makes this a consistently engaging and informative listen. Highly recommend!

17 of 17 people found this review helpful

If only all history books were this riveting!

This is a triumph of scholarship worn lightly. An inspired, revealing and constantly amusing look at the lives of Romans of all classes, professions and ages. A brilliant idea brilliantly executed by a master historian, and a great and always engaging read by John Telfer. How I wish for similar titles devoted to ancient Athens, Jerusalem, Persepolis, Cartague, Luxor, Babylon...we need Matyszaks in all great cities of antiquity!

Great Entertainment

It's very difficult to write genuinely entertaining history, but this book manages to pull it off, funny, insightful, and with an array of characters not given enough 'life' in ordinary text books.

Well you know what they say, when in Rome do as the Romans do.

That was good. That was very interesting. Normally I wouldn’t read anything that goes as far back in time as this book does but I geve this a go just because it sounded interesting and I was not disappointed. The story is told from the point of view of a cross section of people that lived there in all walks of life from the aristocrat to the prostitute and what they might have done for each hour of the day. A typical day in typical lives and with notes as to phrases and words still in sue today. Told with humour this book is far from dry as old fossils would be, and absorbing. The naration is brilliant. I’d read nnother book by this author any time. Waht more can I say? it’s short. A pocket guide book to the city of Rome, enjoy your walk.