Review of "Sons of Caesar" and Author Interview
January 30, 2008
"Does the world need yet another book on the Caesars and the fall of the Republic? Well, yes, actually, as long as it is written with the clarity and probing analysis of Phillip "Maty" Matyszak. In The Sons of Caesar, the good Cambridge doctor of history offers a penetrating study of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the convoluted and dysfunctional family that presided over Rome's transition from Republic to Empire"...
Continue reading the full review of The Sons of Caesar.
Follow the review with some personal insight, in an interview with the author, Dr. Phillip Matyszak.
Roman Life
January 23, 2008
A Review by "Ursus"...
"Romanophilia admits to myriad interests, both subtle and gross. For some the chief interest in Rome is the grand politics of a long-lived civilization etched out by personalities ranging from noble to psychotic. Others see in Rome the austere majesty of the legions and the mystique of ancient warfare. A third camp explores culture and daily life. While having an interest in all areas, it is the latter that has always especially captivated me and continues to do so. From the silent majesty of architecture to the din of the gladiator games, from the sacredness of a religious ceremony to the sumptuousness of the dinner table, I feel both vexed and comforted by the quotidian experiences of our esteemed forebears."
Read the full review of Roman Life by John R. Clarke...
Severus' Administration and the Legions
January 16, 2008
A continuation of the historical narrative:
Ultimate victory over rivals Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus allowed Septimius Severus to focus his attention addressing legionary reform and engaging in military endeavors against external threats. Having already reformed the praetorian guard, who were responsible for the murder of Pertinax and the auction of the empire to Didius Julianus, Severus raised the pay scale by one half of the standard for legionaries, allowed more opportunities for promotion and in AD 197 legalized marriage for soldiers...
Severus' Administration and the Legions
The Gladiators: History's Most Deadly Sport
January 11, 2008
Another thought-provoking review by "Ursus"...
"I am greatly surprised I have not heard more about this work. It is one of those studies I describe as intelligent but not pretentious. By that I mean it is rooted in sound scholarship (the author being a history professor at the University of Amsterdam), but written clearly enough that one need not be a diehard Romanophile or even an university graduate to appreciate its erudition. It is a fast enough read - I finished it in half a day - and yet every page is crammed full with useful info. The subject matter is itself a survey of one of the most infamous phenomenon of ancient history, a blood soaked pastime that has captivated many who otherwise might not have any use for Roman culture. Given all this I find it strange, and yet also quite exhilarating, that I am the first writer of UNRV to grace my comrades with word of this worthy tome."...
Read the full review of The Gladiators: History's Most Deadly Sport by Fik Meijer
Bacchus: Biography Review and Author Interview
January 05, 2008
Forum leader "Ursus" presents the following review:
"One of UNRV's more accessible resources is the smattering of bona fide scholars and authors that grace our fora. Our longest serving resident scholar is the venerable Andrew Dalby, an Oxford trained scholar on the classical world with interests in language and food. Two of my esteemed fellow moderators have submitted reviews on Dalby's works, each choosing a subject near and dear to their heart. The delightfully gastronomic Pertinax devoured Dalby's Empire of Pleasures, while the deeply Hellenophile Pantagathus sung odes for Dalby's Rediscovering Homer. My own special interest is Greco-Roman mythology and religious cult. It was thus a pleasant surprise when I discovered Mr. Dalby had written a retelling of Bacchic myth. Not to be outdone by my two erudite legati colleagues, I immediately crafted the following review as a prelude to an interview with Mr. Dalby."
Continue reading the review of Bacchus: A Biography and the accompanying interview with author Andrew Dalby.
Rome Total War Review
January 01, 2008
A review of an ancient world classic PC game by "Ursus"...
"A review should be reflective of the medium under study. I'm not reviewing a scholarly book or even a classic film, but a popular piece of gaming entertainment. So let us drop all literary pretenses and get down to business! Whether you are an eager gamer of 16 or 60, you probably want a basic assessment to determine if the game is worth purchasing. To that end, I present The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of "Rome Total War: Gold Edition." The Gold Edition offers the original "Rome Total War" (RTW) as well as the "Barbarian Invasion" (BI) expansion pack..."
Read the full review of Rome Total War: Gold Edition
