The History Of Rome In 12 Buildings

Download The History Of Rome In 12 Buildings full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online The History Of Rome In 12 Buildings ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

The History of Rome in 12 Buildings

Author : Phillip Barlag
Publisher : Red Wheel/Weiser
ISBN 13 : 1632658755
Total Pages : 226 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (326 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The History of Rome in 12 Buildings by : Phillip Barlag

Download or read book The History of Rome in 12 Buildings written by Phillip Barlag and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2018-03-19 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Any travel guide to Rome will urge visitors to go the Colosseum, but none answers a simple question: Why is it called the Colosseum? The History of Rome in 12 Buildings: A Travel Companion to the Hidden Secrets of The Eternal City is compelling, concise, and fun, and takes you behind the iconic buildings to reveal the hidden stories of the people that forged the Roman Empire. Typical travel guides provide torrents of information but deny their readers depth and perspective. In this gap is the really good stuff--the stories that make the buildings come alive and vividly enhance any trip to Rome. The History of Rome in 12 Buildings will immerse you in the world of the Romans, one full of drama, intrigue, and scandal. With its help, you will be able to trace the rise and fall of the ancient world's greatest superpower: Find the last resting spot of Julius Caesar. Join Augustus as he offers sacrifices to the gods. Discover the lie on the façade of the Pantheon. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus. And so much more.

The Eternal City

Author : Ferdinand Addis
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1681775999
Total Pages : 508 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (817 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Eternal City by : Ferdinand Addis

Download or read book The Eternal City written by Ferdinand Addis and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-11-06 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The magnificent and definitive history of the Eternal City, narrated by a master historian. Why does Rome continue to exert a hold on our imagination? How did the "Caput mundi" come to play such a critical role in the development of Western civilization? Ferdinand Addis addresses these questions by tracing the history of the "Eternal City" told through the dramatic key moments in its history: from the mythic founding of Rome in 753 BC, via such landmarks as the murder of Caesar in 44 BC, the coronation of Charlemagne in AD 800 and the reinvention of the imperial ideal, the painting of the Sistine chapel, the trial of Galileo, Mussolini's March on Rome of 1922, the release of Fellini's La Dolce Vita in 1960, and the Occupy riots of 2011. City of the Seven Hills, spiritual home of Catholic Christianity, city of the artistic imagination, enduring symbol of our common European heritage—Rome has inspired, charmed, and tempted empire-builders, dreamers, writers, and travelers across the twenty-seven centuries of its existence. Ferdinand Addis tells this rich story in a grand narrative style for a new generation of readers.

A Companion to the City of Rome

Author : Claire Holleran
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1405198192
Total Pages : 804 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (51 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis A Companion to the City of Rome by : Claire Holleran

Download or read book A Companion to the City of Rome written by Claire Holleran and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2018-09-24 with total page 804 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Companion to the City of Rome presents a series of original essays from top experts that offer an authoritative and up-to-date overview of current research on the development of the city of Rome from its origins until circa AD 600. Offers a unique interdisciplinary, closely focused thematic approach and wide chronological scope making it an indispensible reference work on ancient Rome Includes several new developments on areas of research that are available in English for the first time Newly commissioned essays written by experts in a variety of related fields Original and up-to-date readings pertaining to the city of Rome on a wide variety of topics including Rome’s urban landscape, population, economy, civic life, and key events

Are We Rome?

Author : Cullen Murphy
Publisher : HMH
ISBN 13 : 0547527071
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (475 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Are We Rome? by : Cullen Murphy

Download or read book Are We Rome? written by Cullen Murphy and published by HMH. This book was released on 2008-05-05 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What went wrong in imperial Rome, and how we can avoid it: “If you want to understand where America stands in the world today, read this.” —Thomas E. Ricks The rise and fall of ancient Rome has been on American minds since the beginning of our republic. Depending on who’s doing the talking, the history of Rome serves as either a triumphal call to action—or a dire warning of imminent collapse. In this “provocative and lively” book, Cullen Murphy points out that today we focus less on the Roman Republic than on the empire that took its place, and reveals a wide array of similarities between the two societies (The New York Times). Looking at the blinkered, insular culture of our capitals; the debilitating effect of bribery in public life; the paradoxical issue of borders; and the weakening of the body politic through various forms of privatization, Murphy persuasively argues that we most resemble Rome in the burgeoning corruption of our government and in our arrogant ignorance of the world outside—two things that must be changed if we are to avoid Rome’s fate. “Are We Rome? is just about a perfect book. . . . I wish every politician would spend an evening with this book.” —James Fallows

Gladiators

Author : M.C. Bishop
Publisher : Casemate Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1612005144
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (12 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Gladiators by : M.C. Bishop

Download or read book Gladiators written by M.C. Bishop and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2017-09-19 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A concise history of ancient Roman gladiators—how they lived, fought, and died in the Colosseum—by the archeologist, author, and Roman military expert. Heroic despite their lowly status, the gladiators of ancient Rome fought vicious duels in large arenas filled with baying crowds. Few lasted more than a dozen fights, yet they were a valuable asset to their owners. Gladiators reveals the fascinating history of these men, how they fought, and how their weapons and techniques developed—debunking myths along the way. Historian M. C. Bishop examines the different forms of gladiator combat, including simulated naval battles held on large artificial lakes. He also discusses how gladiators were carefully paired against each other to balance their strengths and weaknesses. Although their lives were brutal and short, gladiators were the celebrities of their day, admired for their bravery. This short history reveals what we know about the gladiators and how we know it: ancient remains, contemporary literature, graffiti, modern attempts to reconstruct ancient fighting techniques, and the astonishing discovery at Pompeii where a complete gladiator barracks was found alongside multiple skeletons, telling their story.

The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar

Author : Phillip Barlag
Publisher : Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1626566941
Total Pages : 145 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (265 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar by : Phillip Barlag

Download or read book The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar written by Phillip Barlag and published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers. This book was released on 2016-10-17 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar Modern Lessons from the Man Who Built an Empire “Brilliantly crafted to draw leadership lessons from history, this is one of the finest leadership books I have read.” —Doris Kearns Goodwin, bestselling author of Team of Rivals and The Bully Pulpit Leaders are always trying to get better, which is why there is an enormous and growing collection of literature offering the latest leadership paradigm or process. But sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back. Philip Barlag shows us that Julius Caesar is one of the most compelling leaders of the past to study—a man whose approach was surprisingly modern and extraordinarily effective. History is littered with leaders hopelessly out of touch with their people and ruthlessly pursuing their own ambitions or hedonistic whims. But Caesar, who rose from impoverished beginnings, proved by his words and deeds that he never saw himself as being above the average Roman citizen. And he had an amazing ability to generate loyalty, to turn enemies into allies and allies into devoted followers. Barlag uses dramatic and colorful incidents from Caesar's career—being held hostage by pirates, charging headlong alone into enemy lines, pardoning people he knew wanted him dead—to illustrate what Caesar can teach leaders today. Central to Barlag's argument is the distinction between force and power. Caesar avoided using brute force on his followers, understanding that fear never generates genuine loyalty. He exercised a power deeply rooted in his demonstrated personal integrity and his intuitive understanding of people's deepest needs and motivations. His supporters followed him because they wanted to, not because they were compelled to. Over 2,000 years after Caesar's death, this is still the kind of loyalty every leader wants to inspire. Barlag shows how anyone can learn to lead like Caesar.

The Culture of Architecture in Enlightenment Rome

Author : Heather Hyde Minor
Publisher : Penn State University Press
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 328 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Culture of Architecture in Enlightenment Rome by : Heather Hyde Minor

Download or read book The Culture of Architecture in Enlightenment Rome written by Heather Hyde Minor and published by Penn State University Press. This book was released on 2010 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the nexus of learned culture and architecture in the 1730s to 1750s, including major building projects in Rome undertaken by the popes.

Evil Roman Emperors

Author : Phillip Barlag
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1633886913
Total Pages : 237 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (338 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Evil Roman Emperors by : Phillip Barlag

Download or read book Evil Roman Emperors written by Phillip Barlag and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2021-06-15 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nero fiddled while Rome burned. As catchy as that aphorism is, it’s sadly untrue, even if it has a nice ring to it. The one thing Nero is well-known for is the one thing he actually didn’t do. But fear not, the truth of his life, his rule and what he did with unrestrained power, is plenty weird, salacious and horrifying. And he is not alone. Roman history, from the very foundation of the city, is replete with people and stories that shock our modern sensibilities. Evil Roman Emperors puts the worst of Rome’s rulers in one place and offers a review of their lives and a historical context for what made them into what they became. It concludes by ranking them, counting down to the worst ruler in Rome’s long history. Lucius Tarquinius Suburbus called peace conferences with warring states, only to slaughter foreign leaders; Commodus sold offices of the empire to the highest bidder; Caligula demanded to be worshipped as a god, and marched troops all the way to the ocean simply to collect seashells as “proof” of their conquest; even the Roman Senate itself was made up of oppressors, exploiters, and murderers of all stripes. Author Phillip Barlag profiles a host of evil Roman rulers across the history of their empire, along with the faceless governing bodies that condoned and even carried out heinous acts. Roman history, deviant or otherwise, is a subject of endless fascination. What’s never been done before is to look at the worst of the worst at the same time, comparing them side by side, and ranking them against one another. Until now.

Roman Architecture

Author : Diana E. E. Kleiner
Publisher : Yale University Press
ISBN 13 : 0300208014
Total Pages : 374 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (2 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Roman Architecture by : Diana E. E. Kleiner

Download or read book Roman Architecture written by Diana E. E. Kleiner and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2014-01-14 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At its most expansive, the Roman Empire stretched from the British Isles to Egypt; Rome was the ancient world's greatest superpower. Roman Architecture: A Visual Guide is an illustrated introduction to the great buildings and engineering marvels of Rome and its empire. Published as a companion volume to Diana E. E. Kleiner's course on Roman Architecture given through Coursera (first offered in January 2014 but based on a class she has long taught at Yale), this enhanced e-book explores not only Rome but also buildings preserved at Pompeii, Herculaneum, Ostia, Tivoli, North Italy, Sicily, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Jordan, Lebanon, and North Africa. Beginning with the birth of Rome as an Iron Age village, Roman Architecture traces the growth and expansion of the Roman Empire through its cities, which featured civic, religious, commercial, entertainment, and residential districts in the urban setting. A valuable resource for both the student and the traveler, Roman Architecture features over 250 photographs and site plans of the most intriguing and consequential buildings in the Roman Empire. These are presented from the fresh perspective of an author who has journeyed to nearly all of the sites, revealing most of them through her own digital images. In addition, this interactive e-book makes learning about these monuments easier than ever, with handy maps and geolocation links that show you just where the monuments are and, if you're traveling, how to get there. Suitable for the classroom and as a guidebook, Roman Architecture is a fascinating introduction to some of history's most compelling and influential architecture.

A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome

Author : Alberto Angela
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 396 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome by : Alberto Angela

Download or read book A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome written by Alberto Angela and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 396 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This voyage of exploration chronicles twenty-four hours in the life of a Roman patrician, beginning at dawn on an ordinary day in the year 115 A.D., with Imperial Rome at the height of its power.

Rome

Author : Matthew Kneale
Publisher : Simon & Schuster
ISBN 13 : 150119111X
Total Pages : 432 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (11 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Rome by : Matthew Kneale

Download or read book Rome written by Matthew Kneale and published by Simon & Schuster. This book was released on 2019-05-28 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This magnificent love letter to Rome” (Stephen Greenblatt) tells the story of the Eternal City through pivotal moments that defined its history—from the early Roman Republic through the Renaissance and the Reformation to the German occupation in World War Two—“an erudite history that reads like a page-turner” (Maria Semple). Rome, the Eternal City. It is a hugely popular tourist destination with a rich history, famed for such sites as the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s, and the Vatican. In no other city is history as present as it is in Rome. Today visitors can stand on bridges that Julius Caesar and Cicero crossed; walk around temples in the footsteps of emperors; visit churches from the earliest days of Christianity. This is all the more remarkable considering what the city has endured over the centuries. It has been ravaged by fires, floods, earthquakes, and—most of all—by roving armies. These have invaded repeatedly, from ancient times to as recently as 1943. Many times Romans have shrugged off catastrophe and remade their city anew. “Matthew Kneale [is] one step ahead of most other Roman chroniclers” (The New York Times Book Review). He paints portraits of the city before seven pivotal assaults, describing what it looked like, felt like, smelled like and how Romans, both rich and poor, lived their everyday lives. He shows how the attacks transformed Rome—sometimes for the better. With drama and humor he brings to life the city of Augustus, of Michelangelo and Bernini, of Garibaldi and Mussolini, and of popes both saintly and very worldly. Rome is “exciting…gripping…a slow roller-coaster ride through the fortunes of a place deeply entangled in its past” (The Wall Street Journal).

The Twelve Tables

Author : Anonymous
Publisher : Good Press
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 48 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (57 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Twelve Tables by : Anonymous

Download or read book The Twelve Tables written by Anonymous and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2019-12-05 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents the legislation that formed the basis of Roman law - The Laws of the Twelve Tables. These laws, formally promulgated in 449 BC, consolidated earlier traditions and established enduring rights and duties of Roman citizens. The Tables were created in response to agitation by the plebeian class, who had previously been excluded from the higher benefits of the Republic. Despite previously being unwritten and exclusively interpreted by upper-class priests, the Tables became highly regarded and formed the basis of Roman law for a thousand years. This comprehensive sequence of definitions of private rights and procedures, although highly specific and diverse, provided a foundation for the enduring legal system of the Roman Empire.

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Author : Mary Beard
Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN 13 : 1631491253
Total Pages : 743 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (314 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by : Mary Beard

Download or read book SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome written by Mary Beard and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2015-11-09 with total page 743 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New York Times Bestseller A New York Times Notable Book Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Foreign Affairs, and Kirkus Reviews Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award (Nonfiction) Shortlisted for the Cundill Prize in Historical Literature Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (History) A San Francisco Chronicle Holiday Gift Guide Selection A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice Selection A sweeping, "magisterial" history of the Roman Empire from one of our foremost classicists shows why Rome remains "relevant to people many centuries later" (Atlantic). In SPQR, an instant classic, Mary Beard narrates the history of Rome "with passion and without technical jargon" and demonstrates how "a slightly shabby Iron Age village" rose to become the "undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean" (Wall Street Journal). Hailed by critics as animating "the grand sweep and the intimate details that bring the distant past vividly to life" (Economist) in a way that makes "your hair stand on end" (Christian Science Monitor) and spanning nearly a thousand years of history, this "highly informative, highly readable" (Dallas Morning News) work examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but challenges the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries. With its nuanced attention to class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries, SPQR will to shape our view of Roman history for decades to come.

Ancient Rome

Author : Peter Connolly
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN 13 : 9780199108091
Total Pages : 72 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (8 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Ancient Rome by : Peter Connolly

Download or read book Ancient Rome written by Peter Connolly and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2001 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is one of two new titles from the acclaimed master of recreating the ancient world. Peter Connolly's superb illustrations bring to life the world of ancient Rome, giving children aged 8+ a real sense of what it was like to live there. We visit the baths and the laundry, watch chariotraces at the Circus Maximus and gladiator fights at the Colosseum, and discover a wealth of fascinating details of everyday life. Perfect to support homework. Peter Connolly is a best-selling author and illustrator of the ancient world. His previous books with Oxford include Pompeii, The Roman Fort, The Legionary, The Cavalryman, The Ancient Greece of Odysseus, The Holy Land and The Ancient City. These have sold over 250,000 copies in English, and havebeen translated into many other languages. Peter Connolly is an Honorary Research Fellow of the Institute of Archaeology, London.

Ancient Rome

Author : J. C. Coulston
Publisher : Oxbow Books
ISBN 13 : 1782975020
Total Pages : 400 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (829 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Ancient Rome by : J. C. Coulston

Download or read book Ancient Rome written by J. C. Coulston and published by Oxbow Books. This book was released on 2000-12-01 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A major new book on the archaeology of Rome. The chapters, by an impressive list of contributors, are written to be as up-to-date and useful as possible, detailing lots of new research. There are new maps for the topography and monuments of Rome, a huge research bibliography containing 1,700 titles and the volume is richly illustrated. Essential for all Roman scholars and students. Contents: Preface: a bird's eye view ( Peter Wiseman ); Introduction ( Jon Coulston and Hazel Dodge ); Early and Archaic Rome ( Christopher Smith ); The city of Rome in the Middle Republic ( Tim Cornell ); The moral museum: Augustus and the image of Rome ( Susan Walker ); Armed and belted men: the soldiery in Imperial Rome ( Jon Coulston ); The construction industry in Imperial Rome ( Janet Delaine and G Aldrete ); The feeding of Imperial Rome: the mechanics of the food supply system ( David Mattingly ); `Greater than the pyramids': the water supply of ancient Rome ( Hazel Dodge ); Entertaining Rome ( Kathleen Coleman ); Living and dying in the city of Rome: houses and tombs ( John Patterson ); Religions of Rome ( Simon Price ); Rome in the Late Empire ( Neil Christie ); Archaeology and innovation ( Hugh Petter ); Appendix: Sources for the study of ancient Rome ( Jon Coulston and Hazel Dodge ).

The Roman History

Author : Nathaniel Hooke
Publisher : Legare Street Press
ISBN 13 : 9781020179143
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (791 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Roman History by : Nathaniel Hooke

Download or read book The Roman History written by Nathaniel Hooke and published by Legare Street Press. This book was released on 2023-07-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This classic history book offers a detailed account of ancient Rome, covering important events such as the founding of the city, the Punic Wars, and the eventual decline of the Roman Empire. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the ancient world. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Rome

Author : Ferdinand Addis
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781781851883
Total Pages : 632 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (518 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Rome by : Ferdinand Addis

Download or read book Rome written by Ferdinand Addis and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 632 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sweeping story of the city of Rome, told through twenty-two moments that shaped its history. ***A TimesHistory Book of the Year*** 'Vivid, pacey ... Superb'The Times. 'Grand narrative underpinned by serious reading'Guardian. 'Confident, elegant ... Admirably ambitious'Daily Mail. From Romulus and Remus to the films of Fellini, Rome has always exerted a hold on the world's imagination. Now Ferdinand Addis brings the city of Rome to life by concentrating on vivid episodes from its long and unimaginably rich history. Each beautifully composed chapter is an evocative, self-contained narrative, whether it is the murder of Caesar; the near-destruction of the city by the Gauls in 387 BC; the construction of the Colosseum and the fate of the gladiators; Bernini's creation of the Baroque masterpiece that is St Peter's Basilica; the brutal crushing of republican dreams in 1849; the sinister degeneration of Mussolini's first state, or the magical, corrupt Rome of Fellini's La Dolce Vita. This is an epic, kaleidoscopic history of a city indelibly associated with republicanism and dictatorship, Christian orthodoxy and its rivals, high art and low life in all its forms. REVIEWS FOR ROME: 'Superb ... Rome's history is written in bloodand Addis, who has a vivid, pacey writing style, spares not the squeamish as he describes three millennia of violence from the first kings to Il Duce' The Times. 'This is a confident, elegantaccount of the city's progress ... [Addis's] version is admirably ambitious and succeeds splendidly in a task that would daunt lesser authors' Daily Mail. '[Addis] brings Rome's history alive through grand narrative... The snappy paragraphs are underpinned by serious reading ... Addis's chosen formula is to serve up selected highlights but to come at them from quirky angles' Guardian. 'From its ancient foundation to the Second World War, via Gauls, ghettos and gladiators, its 22 chapters focus on the themes of individuals, myths and beliefs' BBC World Histories. 'He brings the myth of Rome alive by concentrating on vivid episodes from its rich history. This is a book about people, and their experiences, prejudices and beliefs' Oxford Times.