How to Survive the Roman Empire, by Pliny and Me: The Complete Series 1-3

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

By: Hattie Naylor

Narrated by: Joanna Scanlan, Kieran Hodgson, full cast, Mia Soteriou, Matthew Gravelle, Nigel Barrett, Ewan Bailey

Kieran Hodgson stars as Pliny the Younger in Hattie Naylor’s engaging drama charting the fortunes of a household in Ancient Rome.

The Emperor Domitian has informers everywhere; no-one is safe. He rules Rome with a rod of iron, and is dangerously unstable and paranoid. In the snake-pit of Imperial Rome, all Pliny the Younger wants to do is get his letters ready for publication.

Except if he, his mother Marcella, their Greek cook Doris (who narrowly missed out on becoming the next Oracle at Delphi), and Venta, their slave with secretarial skills have any chance of surveying, they are going to have to negotiate a political minefield, keep their eyes peeled for spies and, most of all, not do anything to annoy the Emperor.

Easier said than done.

Cast and credits

Pliny the Younger………………..Kieran Hodgson
Venta………………………………..Nigel Barrett
Marcella……………………………Joanna Scanlan
Doris the Cook…………………Mia Soteriou
Regulus……………………….Matthew Gravelle
Lucipor…………………………Ewan Bailey
Produced by and directed for radio by Kate McAll
Written by Hattie Naylor

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A good way to pass time

The story told by the slave as narrator. It is captivating series of stories. I won't spoil the story but I do suggest you listen to it.

Great performances

I can’t get enough of BBC enactments. Great story, voice work & entertainment that lasts an afternoon

Highly entertaining use of Pliny the Younger

This story, drawn around the letters of Pliny the younger, is fun, interesting and a good use of Pliny's cultural context. The performance of all characters is superior in quality. Even the music is good.

great story line

this story had so much humor the narrator's were fantastic it's hard to choose my most favorite moment there were so many

Fun Lighthearted historical fiction

This is a very fun take on Roman historical fiction. I felt I learned quite a bit about daily life and some political events in Rome which is great and interesting, but mostly it was just fun and well acted. Great listen at night.