Buy used:
$14.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery May 20 - 24 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery May 19 - 22
Used: Good | Details
Sold by Dream Books Co.
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Minimal signs of wear. Corners and cover may show wear. May contain highlighting and or writing. May be missing dust jacket. May not include supplemental materials. May be a former library book. Ships direct from Amazon!

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Alberto Angela
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome: Daily Life, Mysteries, and Curiosities Paperback – May 26, 2009

by Alberto Angela (Author), Gregory Conti (Translator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 124 ratings
See all formats and editions
The wondrous extravagance of banquets where flamingos are roasted whole and wine flows like rivers. The roar of frenzied spectators inside the Colosseum during a battle between gladiators. A crowd of onlookers gathered at a slave auction. The silent baths and the boisterous taverns...Many books have dealt with the history of ancient Rome, but none has been able to so engage its readers in the daily life of the Imperial capital.

This extraordinary armchair tour, guided by Alberto Angela with the charm of a born storyteller, lasts twenty-four hours, beginning at dawn on an ordinary day in the year 115 CE, with Imperial Rome at the height of its power. The reader wakes in a rich patrician home and discovers frescoes, opulent furnishings and richly appointed boudoirs. Strolling though the splendors of the Roman Forum, one overhears both erudite opinions from learned orators and local ribaldry floating out from the public latrines. One meets the intense gazes of Roman matriarchs strolling the streets, looks on as a banquet is prepared, and is afforded a peek into the sexual habits and fetishes of Roman patricians and plebs. For all those who have ever dreamed of traveling back in time, Alberto Angela's narrative style will prove thoroughly satisfying. Rich in atmosphere and historical information, A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome is a voyage into a world both distant to us in time and surprisingly near in its habits, mores, and passions.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Europa Editions
  4. Publication date
    May 26, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5.31 x 1.11 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1933372710
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1933372716
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Many books, documentaries and movies claim to chronicle daily life in ancient Rome, but it's rare to find a narrative so encrusted in detail as this lively offering from an Italian author and television host. Adopting a first person plural voice, Angela takes us on an eagle-eyed tour of the ancient city on an "ordinary day" in the year A.D. 115. Serving as a Virgil-like guide, Angela begins in a Domus, an upper-class home, exploring its meticulous inner workings, from the aqueduct hook-up to the slave labor. Out in the streets, Angela provides a fascinating, nail-by-nail description of Roman construction before schooling readers in the particulars of buying slaves. Next up is a bloody scene at the Coliseum (featuring hungry lions and their worthy meal), and a steamy sunset tour of bedrooms, salons, and sexual mores; Romans viewed sex as "a gift of the gods," something to enjoy, and would "judge our sexuality as excessively complicated... by mental complexes and roles." Angela's rigorous research and populist style, aided by Conti's seamless translation, should fascinate casual readers as well as dedicated Italophiles.

Review

Praise for A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome

"Angela's rigorous research and populist style, aided by Conti's seamless translation, should fascinate casual readers as well as dedicated Italophiles.” 
—Publishers Weekly (starred)

"Alberto Angela makes an important but often complicated subject fascinating and accessible. The reader is catapulted into a day in the Imperial capital and uncovers affinities, secrets, curiosities, and anecdotes about the inhabitants of ancient Rome . . . Angela transforms his book into a kind of three-dimensional set in which the reader strolls, visiting homes, markets, open air school, baths, and even public latrines."
—Il Giornale

"One discovers a wealth of details about the curious habits of ancient Romans, from their recipes to their tastes in interior design, from life in the Insulae, the giant Roman housing projects, to the shocking slave markets."
—Il Corriere della Sera

"A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome feels like a cinematic tour through the apartments and streets of ancient Rome. [The book] is an excellent introduction to the daily life of Roman, likely to inspire further interest in Roman history for the reader."
—Bookslut

"In this scrupulous portrait of ancient Rome, Alberto Angela breathes life into history's intimate aspects, paying homage to that history made not by great figures but by individuals, those citizens of Rome whose daily habits and energies contributed to the grandeur and power of the Roman Empire."
—Agora Magazine

“A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome produces a remarkably illustrative overview of how Romans of that time lived. Angela has succeeded at delivering a large quantity of information with an affable, inviting style.”
—Kristin Merrihew, MostlyFiciton Book Reviews

"Reading this book is like being with a tour guide who has taken you back in time, and is giving you a day’s guided tour of 115 CE Rome.”
—EmmabBooks

“This is a wonderful book for lovers of history and novices alike.”
—History and other Thoughts


            Product details

            • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Europa Editions; Later prt. edition (May 26, 2009)
            • Language ‏ : ‎ English
            • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
            • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1933372710
            • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1933372716
            • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
            • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 1.11 x 8.25 inches
            • Customer Reviews:
              4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 124 ratings

            About the author

            Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
            Alberto Angela

            Alberto Angela

            Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
            Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

            Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

            Customer reviews

            4.5 out of 5 stars
            4.5 out of 5
            124 global ratings

            Top reviews from the United States

            Kimberly
            5.0 out of 5 stars Great Tool for Writers
            Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2014
            Verified Purchase
            I'm using this book as "research" for writing fiction so it is taking some time to get through and absorb the details because it provides such a rich, immersive reading experience. I just finished the section wherein the author attempts to wrap a 21st century outlook on how the ancients viewed slavery. The analogy given was very helpful even as it was appalling to modern sensibilities. I anticipate using much of the atmosphere of this book in my future novel. (I can't comment as to whether or not it is truly historically accurate, though it reads as extremely plausible, as I am not versed on the subject. I don't plan to write a historical novel so I don't have to worry about it.) I definitely recommend to lovers of history and writers alike.
            One person found this helpful
            Helpful
             Report
            Peanut jelly and butter
            5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read
            Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2011
            Verified Purchase
            Am enjoying this book... Lots of interesting facts and details about daily life in Rome. A fun and easy read. Some facts are more random than others, but if you're the type to wonder what it was like to live back in ancient times, then you'd like this book. Love it!
            Helpful
             Report
            Danno
            5.0 out of 5 stars So cool!
            Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2018
            Verified Purchase
            I am not an avid reader and it takes a lot to hold my interest, but this book certainly did! The history is so interesting and the way the book is written it made me feel I was actually back in Ancient Rome as an observer. So cool!
            Helpful
             Report
            Mercedes Rochelle
            4.0 out of 5 stars Fine details from everyday life
            Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2016
            Verified Purchase
            A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome can be taken essentially as a written TV documentary. In fact, author Alberto Angela is in the television business which takes him around the world, making him a very cosmopolitan tour guide. He brings his skills to this interesting day-long trip through Trajan’s Rome at the height of the empire, c.115 CE (AD is no longer politically correct). Alberto takes an unusual approach, but it really worked for me. We are strangers—almost ghosts—who start walking through the city at dawn, peeking into private houses, strolling through public buildings, checking out the forums, attending the games and later a Senator’s banquet. All the while the author describes details to us that are usually left out of our basic education. For instance, we watch a woman in the marketplace so the author can describe how Romans count: “The woman makes the horns sign with her thumb, index, and little finger. But the customer doesn’t get flustered; evidently it’s not an insult. What does it mean? Our curiosity piqued, we walk over to get closer. ‘Four,’ she says. The horn sign must mean four.” And so on. The next page, we get a chart showing the different hand positions and what they (probably) mean. Frankly I never thought about how Romans count, so this was quite useful to me. Later on, Alberto gives us a lesson about the value of money in terms we can relate to today: “In contemporary terms, a sestertius is worth about two Euros, or two and a half dollars…1 quart of olive oil = 3 sestertii = $7.50…1 admission to the baths = ¼ sestertius (1 as) = $0.65…1 slave = 1200-2500 sestertii = $3,150 - $6,300.”

            Of course, no discussion about Rome would be complete without the baths: “Come to think of it, all our imagined reconstructions of ancient Rome are ‘clean’. In reality, they are missing an important detail: smoke… wood is the fuel of the great public baths, ecological monsters that burn trees nonstop, day after day, month after month, year after year—For centuries, almost without interruption.” That certainly puts things into perspective! Of course, the baths are a thing of beauty and a major part of the daily routine. They are also more than just a series of rooms; you get “gardens, woods, statues, and fountains…The only places you can enjoy this type of atmosphere today are the parks of big modern cities.” This book is full of such anecdotes which makes ancient Rome resound with images (both in words and in drawings) that bring everyday people closer to our points of view and make them something we can relate to. Although to me it seemed like the book was written in one draft, I found it very enjoyable and learned much I will find useful in the future.
            7 people found this helpful
            Helpful
             Report
            MRM
            5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Condition
            Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2020
            Verified Purchase
            This was not an easy book to find. The seller worked hard to get it to me. Due to Covid-19 and the mail service was somewhat slow (not the sellers fault). Anyway, the book is wonderful and it was in perfect condition.
            Helpful
             Report
            Mary Surman
            5.0 out of 5 stars This could be boring but isn't
            Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021
            Verified Purchase
            My daughter got this as a textbook-- I picked it up to see what it was about. Interesting way for writing and easy to read about Rome during the time of Trajan. Walks you through a typical day of a resident of Rome.
            Helpful
             Report
            Ian Cooper
            3.0 out of 5 stars Clunky translation of a neat and educational book.
            Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2017
            Verified Purchase
            A nice look into daily life in ancient Rome. However, the translation is often frustratingly poor, especially when the author refers to names: for example, the Roman consul Sulla is called "Silla", which is the current Italian spelling, but for an English speaker it makes no sense, especially since the classical latin spelling of this consul's name is the same as it is in English. Sulla was a rather famous (or infamous) dictator in ancient Rome, so the error is quite confusing for those of us unaware of the modern Italian translation. I had to look the name up online to figure out who the author was talking about. One or two references to somewhat well-known latin quotes are also mistranslated (or poorly translated). This sort of clunky translation happens a number of times, and it tends to halt the flow of the book, as the reader tries to figure out what the author means. With a better translation, this book would have easily got 4 or 5 stars from me, as it is very informative.
            10 people found this helpful
            Helpful
             Report
            Nemo
            5.0 out of 5 stars Feels like being in Rome during the great empire.
            Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018
            Verified Purchase
            Great book, Alberto Angela bring Rome to life. Don't trust American historians when it comes to Rome - they are surprisingly incompetent (just listen to them mispronounce every single latin word!).

            One criticism I have is impossible to buy this book in original from US. Stupid copyright!
            Helpful
             Report

            Top reviews from other countries

            Translate all reviews to English
            krisley
            5.0 out of 5 stars Detalhado e interessantíssimo
            Reviewed in Brazil on November 3, 2019
            Verified Purchase
            Escrito pelo italiano Alberto Angela e traduzido do italiano para o inglês por Gregory Conti, o livro narra um dia na Roma de 115 E.C., durante o reinado de Trajano, um dos períodos de maior poder e extensão territorial do Império Romano.

            O autor “caminha” pela cidade interagindo com a população e descrevendo o que vê, permitindo ao leitor uma visão mais detalhada da vida na Roma daquela época. Dentre as diversas curiosidades e informações, podem-se destacar: como os romanos faziam fogo; escovavam os dentes; tomavam banho; quando, como e o quê comiam; como se vestiam; como escreviam e liam; os diferentes tipos de habitações; maquiagem e penteados das mulheres; como os homens se barbeavam; engenharia e arquitetura urbanas; leis; descrição da estrutura do Coliseu, do cronograma e da experiência de um dia de evento; o “código moral” a respeito das orientações e atos sexuais; moedas e poder de compra; vida, direitos e venda de escravos; entre outros.

            Apesar de ser um livro de não-ficção, o autor descreve interações ficcionais entre os moradores da cidade, normalmente baseado em epitáfios, pinturas ou documentos históricos, dando vida à soldados, gladiadores, escravos, trabalhadores regulares, professores, entre outros, mostrando um pouco de como era o dia a dia dessas pessoas.

            Essa edição da “Europa editions” conta com capa comum, papel de alta gramatura, tipografia muito bem-feita e pouco mais de 10 ilustrações de alta resolução em preto e branco ao longo do texto. Tamanho um pouco menor que o padrão nacional, mas maior que um livro de bolso.

            Recomendadíssimo para quem quer ter uma visão mais detalhada da vida na Roma Antiga.
            Customer image
            krisley
            5.0 out of 5 stars Detalhado e interessantíssimo
            Reviewed in Brazil on November 3, 2019
            Escrito pelo italiano Alberto Angela e traduzido do italiano para o inglês por Gregory Conti, o livro narra um dia na Roma de 115 E.C., durante o reinado de Trajano, um dos períodos de maior poder e extensão territorial do Império Romano.

            O autor “caminha” pela cidade interagindo com a população e descrevendo o que vê, permitindo ao leitor uma visão mais detalhada da vida na Roma daquela época. Dentre as diversas curiosidades e informações, podem-se destacar: como os romanos faziam fogo; escovavam os dentes; tomavam banho; quando, como e o quê comiam; como se vestiam; como escreviam e liam; os diferentes tipos de habitações; maquiagem e penteados das mulheres; como os homens se barbeavam; engenharia e arquitetura urbanas; leis; descrição da estrutura do Coliseu, do cronograma e da experiência de um dia de evento; o “código moral” a respeito das orientações e atos sexuais; moedas e poder de compra; vida, direitos e venda de escravos; entre outros.

            Apesar de ser um livro de não-ficção, o autor descreve interações ficcionais entre os moradores da cidade, normalmente baseado em epitáfios, pinturas ou documentos históricos, dando vida à soldados, gladiadores, escravos, trabalhadores regulares, professores, entre outros, mostrando um pouco de como era o dia a dia dessas pessoas.

            Essa edição da “Europa editions” conta com capa comum, papel de alta gramatura, tipografia muito bem-feita e pouco mais de 10 ilustrações de alta resolução em preto e branco ao longo do texto. Tamanho um pouco menor que o padrão nacional, mas maior que um livro de bolso.

            Recomendadíssimo para quem quer ter uma visão mais detalhada da vida na Roma Antiga.
            Images in this review
            Customer image
            Customer image
            Report
            John7474
            5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
            Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2017
            Verified Purchase
            A very interesting account of life in ancient Rome for the various classes of people who lived here.
            Report
            Amazon Customer
            5.0 out of 5 stars Guide Book to Ancient Rome
            Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2013
            Verified Purchase
            This is a wonderful book. It's very easy to read but packed full of fascinating facts, anecdotes and information. It really does bring Ancient Rome alive and is an excellent and very attractive addition to anyone's book collection. I am lucky enough to be going to Rome in a few weeks so bought it to deepen my knowledge of the period. The author "leads" us through Rome in a day, from pre-dawn for 24 hours. It covers all levels of society, food, buildings, habits, attitudes, relationships etc. He explains and describes with reference and comparison to modern civilisation, occasionally deviating to other cities in the empire and wider background information. This is a brilliant book for everyone interested in the Roman Empire and the people who were part of it.
            One person found this helpful
             Report
            Geoff Taylor
            5.0 out of 5 stars Brings Ancient Rome to life
            Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2014
            Verified Purchase
            Having just returned from a first visit to Rome, I ordered this book after seeing it for sale in the Colliseum. The title stuck with me so I later purchased it and reading it brings my whole Rome visit to life as it was in the days of the Empire. Brilliant story about day to day life for the subjects of the Empire. Very good on two levels: one as an historical record and secondly to bring any present day visit to Rome into contrast with the past, it truly enhances your imagination of those times. Also a very easy read, not at all heavy going.
            Report
            jameschapman
            5.0 out of 5 stars being there
            Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2016
            Verified Purchase
            i am currently in the process of writing a novel set in ancient rome and this book is excellent for details on the city and its sights,smells,day to day goings on indeed there is not much that went on there that is not in this book its a first class volume if you want the feel of roman life i would recommend it
            Report