I didn't read this one, but I heard a lot of positive of this book. So it will probably be worth the money, for sure.
Glad to hear that, because I'm going to order it soon
I bought it a while ago and have not yet read it, But browsing through it at the store it did seem entertaining.
I saw it, but as 5 denarii per day would have been really rather a lot of money for most Romans (it would be rather more than six times what a soldier would have been paid prior to Severus and perhaps three times what a soldier would have been paid after Severus) I decided that the authors probably did not know what they were on about and did not take it off the shelf at the bookshop. Perhaps I was wrong.
Crispvs
I think you are taking the title a little too seriously. The publishers (Thames & Hudson in this case) obviously needed a catchy title that might mean something to the general public, who just might have heard of denarii.
Philip Matyszak does know his stuff (he teaches and writes distance learning courses in Ancient History for Cambridge) but is excellent at injecting humour into his subjects.
In a more serious vein (but still a lively read and shot through with his charming wit), we (Pen & Sword) have just published his Mithridates the Great: Rome's Indomitable Enemy. He has more or less completed one of the volumes in the forthcoming Roman Conquests series and is set to start work on another biography for us, but I am keeping the subject to myself till nearer the time.
Phil Sidnell
Ahh - the implacable king of Pontus might just be the thing to keep me occupied during the Christmas break. Do you have any further information for us about this?
Crispvs
I have read it and its a useful reference to Rome in 200AD. Written with a sardonic humour by a man who knows his stuff. Its based on the Rough Travel Guide Idea but he does not put himself right back in time so he can quote some authority.
Probably the best place for it is coffee table or better still a toilet similar to the one we had as children with book shelves and a reading table.
I keep on looking at it in the bookshops, but haven't bought it yet.
Avete,
I have not bought it yet, because of an absence of money (Christmas spending) but I am going to bu it as soon as possible :-) ) This book really seems to be funny and also instructive...
regards
I received it as a birthday present. I can recommend it.
Yeaah, It is a great tip for the birthday present, thank you :-) ) I am looking forward to my birthday ;-) )
regards