The Roman Way

By Edith Hamilton,

Book cover of The Roman Way

Book description

In this informal history of Roman civilization, Edith Hamilton vividly depicts the Roman life and spirit as they are revealed in the greatest writers of the time. Among these literary guides are Cicero, who left an incomparable collection of letters; Catullus, the quintessential poet of love; Horace, the chronicler of…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Roman Way as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

An oldie (first published in 1932) but a goodie. Hamilton's short essays on the classic Latin writers--from the first writers of Latin comedy through to the epic poets and historians who did so much to shape the language--aren't just a crash course on the Roman literary canon. They're an accessible introduction to Roman culture from the ground up.

From Rob's list on ancient Roman history.

In college, I read The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton and while writing Vestal Virgin I discovered she’d written this little book about ancient Rome. An educator and prolific novelist, Hamilton offers us her interpretation of selected works by great Romans. The collection includes: Plautus, Cicero, Livy, Horace, and Vergil. It’s a wonderful, short read for anyone interested in some of the most important writers in history.

I wrote to Edith Hamilton, asking her for research recommendations, not realizing that she’d passed away years earlier. Months later, a large manila envelope arrived from England. Along with a kind letter, her…

From Suzanne's list on ancient Rome at the time of Nero.

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