SPQR. I'm sure you're wondering how there's going to be a book called that. And what will it be about? Well yes, the truth is that there is. And perhaps that's why the author decided to have a subtitle that almost no one remembers: “A History of Ancient Rome.”
But what is this book about? If you are a fan of Rome and learning more about its history, then take a look at this article in which we tell you about important things about it. Shall we start?
Who wrote SPQR
Source: Efeminist
The author to whom we owe the book SPQR is none other than Mary Beard. She is an English academic and her specialty is classical studies.
She combines her role as a writer with that of professor at the University of Cambridge, fellow (member of the academic corporation) at Newnham College and professor of ancient literature at the Royal Academy of Arts.
Since she was little she has been an avid reader and she has always seen her career as a way to demonstrate that women were as capable or more capable than men in their academic potential.
SPQR is not the first work of this author. In fact, he began publishing in 1985 (and was revised in 1999), in a book on Rome that he wrote together with Michael Crawford (a former Cambridge historian). Not all of his books have Spanish translations, but you can find at least half a dozen (including the last one he published in 2016).
What does SPQR mean?
Few books take a risk with a title that includes acronyms. And it is difficult for many to know exactly what these refer to. Therefore, SPQR is something very related to Rome, but only true fans of this culture will understand.
SPQR comes from the words Senatus Populusque Romanus. And they represented the maximum power in Rome. Actually, to the highest powers: on the one hand, the Senate. On the other, the people.
These initials appeared on many Roman constructions, as well as on coins or documents.
What is the book about?
As a summary, we can tell you that SPQR is a historical study basically. The author has collected in her pages a general vision of what the history of Rome was like from the origins to the year 212 AD. On that date, Emperor Caracalla made the decision to give Roman citizenship to all the free inhabitants of the Roman Empire.
Aside from history, the writer also tells us about daily life, politics, culture and society in Rome, as well as the evolutions that occurred over the years.
The first chapters of the book focus mainly on the myths and legends about Rome. They are a base that the writer uses to advance over the years, focusing above all on the Roman Republic (where she expands the most), the transition to the monarchy, the Roman Empire and, finally, the edict that marks a turning point.
In total, it has 608 pages in the hardcover edition. But this may vary if the cover format is changed (pocket or softcover).
We leave you the synopsis:
«The history of Rome has never been told in such an attractive way.
Mary Beard, perhaps the greatest current figure in classical studies, offers us a new vision of the history of Ancient Rome.
As the culmination of fifty years of study and research on ancient Rome, Mary Beard, a professor at the University of Cambridge, offers us a masterful overview of its history: a story that, she tells us, “after two thousand years, it remains the foundation of our culture and politics, of how we view the world and our place in it. '
A specialist such as Peter Heather, a professor at King's College, points out that Beard succeeds in the ambitious task of "giving us a coherent answer to the question of why Rome expanded so spectacularly." Nothing could be further away, however, from a standard academic synthesis.
In most critical reviews of this book the adjectives "masterful" and "entertaining" appear associated. Catherine Edwards, for example, tells us that "the analysis of institutions and structures is constantly animated in these pages by exciting episodes."
Worth?
Giving you an opinion on whether a book is worth it or not is complicated. There will be people who do like this work. While others will find it boring.
Opinions regarding the book are very varied. Many praise the writer's technique for narrating historical events and making them enjoyable and entertaining. However, others are very critical and warn that they are not really historical facts, but rather that they give data of mistakes or assumptions that they do not really consider to be real due to other studies and analyzes of Roman society.
Have you read SPQR. A history of ancient Rome? What do you think of him? If you have not read it yet and are interested in the Roman world, it can be a very informative read to learn more about what they were like in every way.