#BookReview: A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon

Synopsis: An entertaining and informative look at the unique culture of crime, punishment, and killing in Ancient Rome

In Ancient Rome, all the best stories have one thing in common—murder. Romulus killed Remus to found the city, Caesar was assassinated to save the Republic. Caligula was butchered in the theater, Claudius was poisoned at dinner, and Galba was beheaded in the Forum. In one 50-year period, 26 emperors were murdered.
But what did killing mean in a city where gladiators fought to the death to sate a crowd? In A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Emma Southon examines a trove of real-life homicides from Roman history to explore Roman culture, including how perpetrator, victim, and the act itself were regarded by ordinary people. Inside Ancient Rome's darkly fascinating history, we see how the Romans viewed life, death, and what it means to be human.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 💫💫💫💫💫
My Review:  This book is amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves history,  Ancient Rome, or just some interesting murder stories.  I was initially drawn in by the awesome cover and intrigued by the promise of the real-life homicide cases.  I can say I was not disappointed at all with this one. The author has a way of making the history fun amd not tedious or boring. I found myself laughing quite a few times as I read through the history and various laws and cases. It is a bit long but it is well worth the read. I also thought the glossary at the end was great and useful for anyone not already familiar with Ancient Rome.

Review

“Ms. Southon...has a rare gift for immersing herself in the world of the Romans and embracing its strangeness while keeping the door of critical distance ajar...Her writing gives the impression that she’s having the time of her life and wants to bring us, her besties, along for the ride... At a moment when the study of classics struggles to escape its starchy, imperialist legacy, Ms. Southon’s cheeky enthusiasm feels like the path of salvation.”
  ― Wall Street Journal

“Along the way, Southon works in intriguing history lessons about Roman law, politics, marriage, and sport, and makes breezy yet enlightening analogies…This colorful chronicle of ancient Rome has an appealingly modern sensibility.”
  ― Publishers Weekly

“This narrative style provides not only humor but a sense of relevance to today's world... Brutal, graphic, amusing, and enthralling, this work is a must-read for true crime fans as well as history lovers”
  ― Booklist

"a witty and erudite summary of murder and death as a part of Roman daily life...Emma Southon will guide you through the bloody annals of history and give you an entertaining and appropriate commentary while doing so." ― Historical Novels Review --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

About the Author

Dr. Emma Southon holds a PhD in ancient history from the University of Birmingham. The author of Marriage, Sex and Death: the Family and the Fall of Rome and Agrippina, she co-hosts a history podcast with writer Janina Matthewson called History is Sexy and works full time as a bookseller at Waterstones Belfast.
  --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

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Posted in: 5 Stars, Abrams Press, Adult, HeatherR, Non Fiction, Review