- Entirely new evidence based on original sources rendered in modern and understandable translations
- Covers the whole gaunt of social history in ancient Rome
- Authoritative and referenced commentaries on each passage, placing each into a social and historical context
- Superbly illustrated with photographs and drawings
When in Rome: Social Life in Ancient Rome is a vibrant and accessible social history of Rome from 753 BCE to the fall of the Empire some 1,300 years later. To support its findings, the book features hundreds of translations of inscriptions and graffiti from original authors – Roman, Greek and Jewish – and evidence culled from the visual arts, curse tablets, official records and letters, both private and official. Each comes with detailed commentaries, placing them into a social and historical context. The result is a fascinating survey of how Roman men, women and children lived their lives on a daily basis taking in marriage, slavery, gladiators, medicine, magic, religion, superstition and the occult as well as sex, work and play, education, death, housing, country life and city life.
There are also chapters on domestic violence, family pets and female genital mutilation. In short, When in Rome gives a vivid description of what the Romans really did.
Paul Chrystal is an author of more than twenty-five books and a broadcaster. Ten of his books are on York including A History of Chocolate in York (2012) and The Rowntree Family of York (2013). He writes articles for national newspapers and regularly appears on the BBC World Service and BBC Local Radio. He is married with three children and lives near York.
234 x 155 mm - hardback - 288 pages - 34 colour illustrations