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Dangerous Days
Dangerous Days in the Roman Empire
DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE is the first in a new adult series by Terry Deary, the author of the hugely bestselling Horrible Histories, popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and sharp wit, and among adults for engaging children (and themselves) with history.
The Romans have long been held up as one of the first 'civilised' societies, and yet in fact they were capable of immense cruelty. Not only that, but they made the killing of humans into a sport. The spoiled emperors were the perpetrators (and sometimes the victims) of some imaginative murders. DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE will include some of the violent ways to visit the Elysian Fields (i.e. death) animal attack in the Coliseum; being thrown from the Tarpeian Rock - 370 deserters in 214 AD alone (or if the emperor didn't like your poetry); by volcanic eruption from Vesuvius; by kicking (Nero's fatal quarrel with the Empress Poppea); from poison mushrooms (Claudius); by great fires; torturous tarring; flogging to death; boiling lead (the invention of 'kind' Emperor Constantine); or being skinned alive by invading barbarians.
DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE looks at the back-story leading up to the victims' deaths, and in doing so gives the general reader a concise history of a frequently misunderstood era.
The Romans have long been held up as one of the first 'civilised' societies, and yet in fact they were capable of immense cruelty. Not only that, but they made the killing of humans into a sport. The spoiled emperors were the perpetrators (and sometimes the victims) of some imaginative murders. DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE will include some of the violent ways to visit the Elysian Fields (i.e. death) animal attack in the Coliseum; being thrown from the Tarpeian Rock - 370 deserters in 214 AD alone (or if the emperor didn't like your poetry); by volcanic eruption from Vesuvius; by kicking (Nero's fatal quarrel with the Empress Poppea); from poison mushrooms (Claudius); by great fires; torturous tarring; flogging to death; boiling lead (the invention of 'kind' Emperor Constantine); or being skinned alive by invading barbarians.
DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE looks at the back-story leading up to the victims' deaths, and in doing so gives the general reader a concise history of a frequently misunderstood era.
266 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2013
22 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Terry Deary
826 books828 followersA former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29. Most famously, he is one of the authors of the Horrible Histories series of books popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and humorous pictures and among adults for getting children interested in history. Books in the series have been widely translated into other languages and imitated.
A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.
The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.
Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.
-Wikipedia
A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.
The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.
Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 12, 2017
This is the second book in this series of 'Horrible Histories' for adults by the HH author. Deary gives us his Horrible Histories take on the Romans, giving us the basic facts but also putting in all the gross stuff too, like the violent deaths. There's also a fair bit about the Emperors sex lives too.
The Romans is oddly on the periods of history where I somehow knew more about day to day life than I did about the Emperors. This book did a really good job of giving us the highs and lows of the emperors, as well as covering some of the more significant moments of the Roman Empire, such as the Great Fire of Rome and the destruction of Pompeii.
My biggest criticism is that this small book tries to cover a vast amount of history. It goes from the first Emperor to the fall of the Western Empire, covering hundreds of years in less than three hundred pages. This could easily have been extended into two books which would have given more room to focus on some of the less 'important' emperors.
Lots of reviews seem to complain of the author overly sharing his opinions, especially in the epilogue, but I didn't notice that. He discusses how Christians were just as nasty as the Romans after the fall of the Empire which isn't opinion, it's fact. Just because you are a Christian and don't like it doesn't mean it isn't true.
An enjoyable read an author I've been reading for almost all my life.
The Romans is oddly on the periods of history where I somehow knew more about day to day life than I did about the Emperors. This book did a really good job of giving us the highs and lows of the emperors, as well as covering some of the more significant moments of the Roman Empire, such as the Great Fire of Rome and the destruction of Pompeii.
My biggest criticism is that this small book tries to cover a vast amount of history. It goes from the first Emperor to the fall of the Western Empire, covering hundreds of years in less than three hundred pages. This could easily have been extended into two books which would have given more room to focus on some of the less 'important' emperors.
Lots of reviews seem to complain of the author overly sharing his opinions, especially in the epilogue, but I didn't notice that. He discusses how Christians were just as nasty as the Romans after the fall of the Empire which isn't opinion, it's fact. Just because you are a Christian and don't like it doesn't mean it isn't true.
An enjoyable read an author I've been reading for almost all my life.
July 29, 2018
This is a fairly quick read - I finished it in a couple of hours. Partly that's the layout, bite-size chunks of information in easy-to-read boxes and paragraphs. It's mainly told chronologically, sorted into chapters by causes of death. Historically, people such as the Victorians have seen Rome as a supposed "Golden Age" of civilisation to admire, but Deary makes it clear that there was actually a lot to dislike about the Romans. Emperors murdered their own relatives, armies wiped out entire tribes and the public loved nothing more than watching slaughter in the Colosseum.
Deary, like others, marvels at the fact the empire managed to keep itself together for so long - and wonders why the Romans never seemed to realise that their own greed and attitudes put them on the road to their ultimate downfall. It's an informative book, humourous in places - and Deary highlights how some aspects of society still haven't changed 2000 years later.
Deary, like others, marvels at the fact the empire managed to keep itself together for so long - and wonders why the Romans never seemed to realise that their own greed and attitudes put them on the road to their ultimate downfall. It's an informative book, humourous in places - and Deary highlights how some aspects of society still haven't changed 2000 years later.
June 24, 2024
( Format : Paperback )
"Sun, sea, sand and skeletons."
A little like a take on 1066 and all that, but without the wit.
A mishmash of text, footnotes and boxed comments about the Roman empire, and mostly it's emperors from Augustus until the end days, sometimes repetitious always derogatory. Could have succeeded in being much more amusing without the constant silly snippets such as Flavour Aper, cut in two by Diocletian's sword, could have been thought by Freud to have 'a split personality'. One or two such comments might have been funny. Page after page of them is not.
I did learn one small fact previously unknown to me in the 266 pages, about the distance of the shore line increase following the eruption of Vesuvius, a poor return, however, for struggling through this book. (Good index at the end, however.) But it you like repetition purporting to be funny when basically writing very scantily about death and destruction, this could well be a book for your enjoyment.
"Sun, sea, sand and skeletons."
A little like a take on 1066 and all that, but without the wit.
A mishmash of text, footnotes and boxed comments about the Roman empire, and mostly it's emperors from Augustus until the end days, sometimes repetitious always derogatory. Could have succeeded in being much more amusing without the constant silly snippets such as Flavour Aper, cut in two by Diocletian's sword, could have been thought by Freud to have 'a split personality'. One or two such comments might have been funny. Page after page of them is not.
I did learn one small fact previously unknown to me in the 266 pages, about the distance of the shore line increase following the eruption of Vesuvius, a poor return, however, for struggling through this book. (Good index at the end, however.) But it you like repetition purporting to be funny when basically writing very scantily about death and destruction, this could well be a book for your enjoyment.
January 31, 2014
As a HUGE fan of "Horrible Histories" books in my teens, I was disappointed in this "adult" history book by the same author. (Yes, not for the kids, this one)
Still witty and interesting - but sometimes it just felt like the author was trying to push his own views on the reader a tad too much. This becomes very apparent in the epilogue.
Still witty and interesting - but sometimes it just felt like the author was trying to push his own views on the reader a tad too much. This becomes very apparent in the epilogue.
January 1, 2021
This is history presented in bite size pieces which makes for interesting and easy reading. The “Dad jokes” riddled throughout are not particularly funny and a bit unnecessary though.
July 16, 2019
Dangerous Days in the Roman Empire is the second of my Terry Deary haul and proved to be far more information packed than the one I read on Ancient Egypt, covering three centuries of Roman history from the rule of Augustus to Rome’s fall.
While lip service is given to some aspects of plebeian life, such as a look at some of the jobs that a Roman citizen might have, it’s very much a look at its rulers instead in a whistlestop tour through the good, the bad and the mad emperors (and noting that each emperor had something in each of those columns). The pace can at times feel a little too fast – leading to a slight case of feeling list-like – but thanks to Derry’s approach of only really talking about the juiciest gossip and goriest of gore, in a very colloquial style (get used to hearing about the Romans ‘battering’ various armies and tribes), it’s a very entertaining book nonetheless.
I’ve seen a few reviews taking exception to Deary letting his own opinions show, but as those opinions are mostly noting how hypocritical the Romans were in considering everyone else barbarians whilst they were throwing Christians to lions and beheading criminals for larks over dinner (and not forgetting to mention that the Christians weren’t any less bloodthirsty once their power was in the ascendancy), I can’t really see why people are taking issue over it.
If you’re looking for an in-depth examination of Rome and its rulers, you’d definitely be better off looking elsewhere. But if you’re looking for an entertaining read to snort over while soaking up sunshine, you could do a lot worse than this.
**Also posted at Cannonball Read 11**
While lip service is given to some aspects of plebeian life, such as a look at some of the jobs that a Roman citizen might have, it’s very much a look at its rulers instead in a whistlestop tour through the good, the bad and the mad emperors (and noting that each emperor had something in each of those columns). The pace can at times feel a little too fast – leading to a slight case of feeling list-like – but thanks to Derry’s approach of only really talking about the juiciest gossip and goriest of gore, in a very colloquial style (get used to hearing about the Romans ‘battering’ various armies and tribes), it’s a very entertaining book nonetheless.
I’ve seen a few reviews taking exception to Deary letting his own opinions show, but as those opinions are mostly noting how hypocritical the Romans were in considering everyone else barbarians whilst they were throwing Christians to lions and beheading criminals for larks over dinner (and not forgetting to mention that the Christians weren’t any less bloodthirsty once their power was in the ascendancy), I can’t really see why people are taking issue over it.
If you’re looking for an in-depth examination of Rome and its rulers, you’d definitely be better off looking elsewhere. But if you’re looking for an entertaining read to snort over while soaking up sunshine, you could do a lot worse than this.
**Also posted at Cannonball Read 11**
February 13, 2022
This book is like if someone took one of the horrible histories books- which are great for kids- took out all the pictures, added talk about sex and incest, started to use some 100 dollar words, and did nothing else. I’ve never read a book that is so confusing in regard to what age it’s meant for!
Originally I picked it up, read the first couple pages, and decided I’d read it aloud to my preteen siblings before our upcoming trip to Italy. The humor and writing is perfect for a thirteen year old boy! And then a couple chapters in, I started to get quite uncomfortable when talking about genital mutilation, incest, child molestation and other definitely not appropriate to be read aloud things. And explaining some of the harder words became exhausting. My fault? Yeah probably. But the writing style is so young I didn’t expect that level of clarity when it came to just how debouched the Romans were.
So all in all, this is a very mediocre history book focusing on the Roman emperors. And pretty much just the Roman emperors. It has quotes scattered throughout that area from various famous people (mostly British) throughout history that have pretty much no context to the meat of the book. The writing is immature and disrespectful. Mildly sexist, and tone deaf. It feels as though we aren’t talking about real people who were actually really tortured and killed. But I guess maybe it is Roman to get pleasure from the pain of others.
Originally I picked it up, read the first couple pages, and decided I’d read it aloud to my preteen siblings before our upcoming trip to Italy. The humor and writing is perfect for a thirteen year old boy! And then a couple chapters in, I started to get quite uncomfortable when talking about genital mutilation, incest, child molestation and other definitely not appropriate to be read aloud things. And explaining some of the harder words became exhausting. My fault? Yeah probably. But the writing style is so young I didn’t expect that level of clarity when it came to just how debouched the Romans were.
So all in all, this is a very mediocre history book focusing on the Roman emperors. And pretty much just the Roman emperors. It has quotes scattered throughout that area from various famous people (mostly British) throughout history that have pretty much no context to the meat of the book. The writing is immature and disrespectful. Mildly sexist, and tone deaf. It feels as though we aren’t talking about real people who were actually really tortured and killed. But I guess maybe it is Roman to get pleasure from the pain of others.
August 7, 2019
“History is a nightmare from which we are trying to awaken.” – James Joyce
It took me about 100 pages or so to really "get into" this book. The details can be just as gory as the back cover promises, but the writing style is much more tongue-in-cheek and chock full of puns. Not exactly what you expect when reading about death by fire or flaying and a series of brutal emperors. For this I really appreciated the excerpts by Dr. Peter Fox that gave the medical reasoning by how and why someone could die by whatever Roman form of torture. In the end I did come around to the way in which Deary approached this: Especially the puns. A perfect example is "...bombarded with turnips. Swede revenge." The book is also full of wonderful quotes about history and the Roman empire to break up the sections of information. Overall I did enjoy this book and would recommend it as a way to ease back into non-fiction reading. Deary's opinion on the people and era he is speaking to is very clear, so I would also recommend this to someone who already has some knowledge of this period for context and to get the most out of the book.
It took me about 100 pages or so to really "get into" this book. The details can be just as gory as the back cover promises, but the writing style is much more tongue-in-cheek and chock full of puns. Not exactly what you expect when reading about death by fire or flaying and a series of brutal emperors. For this I really appreciated the excerpts by Dr. Peter Fox that gave the medical reasoning by how and why someone could die by whatever Roman form of torture. In the end I did come around to the way in which Deary approached this: Especially the puns. A perfect example is "...bombarded with turnips. Swede revenge." The book is also full of wonderful quotes about history and the Roman empire to break up the sections of information. Overall I did enjoy this book and would recommend it as a way to ease back into non-fiction reading. Deary's opinion on the people and era he is speaking to is very clear, so I would also recommend this to someone who already has some knowledge of this period for context and to get the most out of the book.
September 12, 2018
This book is from the author of the Horrible History books which I had loved so much and this book is one of the books for adults that focuses on the more gruesome parts of history.
I did enjoy this book, it went through the different emperors that ruled over Rome and the good, bad and the mad things they did, however, I felt like it was missing a certain lightheartedness and humour that I so enjoyed in the Horrible History books. It was a good overview of the more gruesome bits of the Roman Empire and covered why it failed in the end, and I found it interesting, but it was just missing something for me.
4 stars!
I did enjoy this book, it went through the different emperors that ruled over Rome and the good, bad and the mad things they did, however, I felt like it was missing a certain lightheartedness and humour that I so enjoyed in the Horrible History books. It was a good overview of the more gruesome bits of the Roman Empire and covered why it failed in the end, and I found it interesting, but it was just missing something for me.
4 stars!
December 17, 2017
Deary knows his stuff. Very strange read though. Writing style would make it suitable for a young adult reader, but the subject matter is adults only. Frank discussion of extreme violence and sexual depravity, so disturbing and offputting in parts. Loses points with me as the entire book is punctuated with *very* lame puns. Also features far too many footnotes, most of which contain no useful information, being either jokes or flippant remarks. This disturbs the flow of the book. An entertaining read though, if you can stomach it.
April 27, 2020
This was a hilarious trip through Roman history.
I love a bit of history but I don’t always want to sit down and read a massive in-depth study on something, so this was the perfect solution. The book essentially compiles all the juicy details into quick and easy to digest facts. Then it throws in hilarious footnotes and witty comments that just makes the whole thing so much fun to read.
If I had any complaints it would be that the timelines were occasionally quite difficult to follow and there are a lot of quotes from famous literary figures that I couldn’t lived without.
Can’t wait to go on to read the next book!
I love a bit of history but I don’t always want to sit down and read a massive in-depth study on something, so this was the perfect solution. The book essentially compiles all the juicy details into quick and easy to digest facts. Then it throws in hilarious footnotes and witty comments that just makes the whole thing so much fun to read.
If I had any complaints it would be that the timelines were occasionally quite difficult to follow and there are a lot of quotes from famous literary figures that I couldn’t lived without.
Can’t wait to go on to read the next book!
July 12, 2017
Lots of fun and a great way to get a quick over-view of the Roman Empire. Doesn't go into too much depth but it does have a lot of interesting and funny anecdotes that might not be featured in more serious history books.
Written by the man who wrote the 'Horrible Histories' books (upon which the BBC show is based).
Written by the man who wrote the 'Horrible Histories' books (upon which the BBC show is based).
November 29, 2018
A really funny history of the Roman Empire, focusing specifically on the many emperors of Rome. It's lots of fun to read and approaches the subject in a new, hilarious way! It will help the reader to see Ancient Rome in a whole new light!
July 22, 2020
Very enjoyable read, a condensed summary of pretty much everything you might need to know about the Romans. It does miss out some key areas and focuses near entirely on the emperors, but has an amusing format and often gives interesting anecdotes, leading to an easy rather than an academic read.
June 24, 2024
This is a great book if you want to learn more about the Roman Empire itself! It doesn’t go into any detail about the Republic, other than “Julius Caesar was murdered”. I guess that’s what you get for a book about the Roman Empire! It provides informations on almost every emperor, and provides the good, bad, and mad traits they endured. It breaks off the track sometimes, to explain battles, wars, plagues, fires, persecutions, and other important historical milestones.
I found this book to be very informational, but it jumped around a bit. One chapter would start with Nero and two chapters later, even though you’ve gone through six emperors, it was still talking about Nero! It was thorough in its research of torture, even bringing in a doctor to explain causes of death. It did feel like the author was trying to push his views into the story, leading to biased segments hiding the real problem.
Overall, I’d rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I found this book to be very informational, but it jumped around a bit. One chapter would start with Nero and two chapters later, even though you’ve gone through six emperors, it was still talking about Nero! It was thorough in its research of torture, even bringing in a doctor to explain causes of death. It did feel like the author was trying to push his views into the story, leading to biased segments hiding the real problem.
Overall, I’d rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
December 21, 2024
I listened to this on audiobook format. This is basically Horrible Histories for adults - which means extra horrible. And it being about the ancient Roman Empire, the content is extra, extra horrible. But there’s humour also involved so expect entertainment rather than a grim read.
July 13, 2017
Sometimes a little formulaic, but overall a fun read
October 10, 2019
This book is for adults !? Seriously ... i bought it in the kids section at Oxfam, needless to say i hated tyhe layout and didnt enjoy the repetidity of it, i thought it was for teenagers
February 27, 2020
Not as detailed as could have been. A good taster to that time but didn't really go into much depth.
June 23, 2020
explicit in some parts 14+
April 27, 2021
Yay I broke my reading drought.
Feel like this book was intended to be a toilet read as the structure was a bit confusing.
Feel like this book was intended to be a toilet read as the structure was a bit confusing.
July 27, 2022
This book is great fun - I didn't howl with laughter but it didn't make me grind my teeth with frustration either.
August 14, 2025
some interesting facts but the bad puns and chronic dad jokes really made this a struggle to read. so cringe worthy.
December 27, 2020
This is just like the Horrible Histories books in that the facts are presented in bite-sized chunks and in easy-to-read paragraphs and boxes, with the typical Deary humour and gore. In fact, the only thing missing from the original series is the cartoons. The book is great book for reading when you only have a short amount of time because it is so easy to pick up and put down.
The book covers a vast amount of history and is packed full of information. It remined me of authors such as Philip Matyszak who are successful at combining Roman history with an enjoyable and fun read. I personally really enjoyed it and will probably reread again at some point. I knocked a star off because – as some other reviews have already pointed out – the author’s personal opinions come to the fore, especially in the epilogue and leave a little bit of sour aftertaste.
The book covers a vast amount of history and is packed full of information. It remined me of authors such as Philip Matyszak who are successful at combining Roman history with an enjoyable and fun read. I personally really enjoyed it and will probably reread again at some point. I knocked a star off because – as some other reviews have already pointed out – the author’s personal opinions come to the fore, especially in the epilogue and leave a little bit of sour aftertaste.
September 18, 2016
Ehh this was ok. I guess my hopes were raised a bit too high after reading the Horrible History series, by the same author, and this book just... lacked, in comparison. It's ostensibly Horrible Histories for adults, but the 'gimmicks' that worked in HH, like the alliteration and the puns, came across as forced and childish in this one. I also felt the huge amount of quotes were annoying, especially as some seemed only VERY tangentially related to the subject (why is there a Victorian anti-alcohol song quoted in a book about Roman emperors??).
And for a book supposedly about the Roman empire there was a huge focus on early Christianity, which was weird. Yes, the Christians 'win' in the end, but let's just focus on the emperors for now, shall we? Because God knows there's plenty to say about them!
And in that regard the book does deliver. It discusses all the emperors, from Augustus to Romulus in chronological order (although the last, oh, hundred or so are jammed pretty tightly together - as well they should be since the emperor sometimes managed to get through 50 emperors in as many years). The early emperors, from Augustus to Commodus, get the most attention, as they can be viewed as the high point of the Roman emperor. Both the good and the bad (sometimes VERY bad) are discussed, including of course their sometimes gruesome deaths. Also discussed: the games in the arena, the various wars fought by the emperors, and horrid jobs you really wouldn't want to have in ancient Rome...
Good introduction and overview of all the emperors of Rome. But I'm guessing you could also just read a Horrible Histories book; it'll be more fun anyway.
And for a book supposedly about the Roman empire there was a huge focus on early Christianity, which was weird. Yes, the Christians 'win' in the end, but let's just focus on the emperors for now, shall we? Because God knows there's plenty to say about them!
And in that regard the book does deliver. It discusses all the emperors, from Augustus to Romulus in chronological order (although the last, oh, hundred or so are jammed pretty tightly together - as well they should be since the emperor sometimes managed to get through 50 emperors in as many years). The early emperors, from Augustus to Commodus, get the most attention, as they can be viewed as the high point of the Roman emperor. Both the good and the bad (sometimes VERY bad) are discussed, including of course their sometimes gruesome deaths. Also discussed: the games in the arena, the various wars fought by the emperors, and horrid jobs you really wouldn't want to have in ancient Rome...
Good introduction and overview of all the emperors of Rome. But I'm guessing you could also just read a Horrible Histories book; it'll be more fun anyway.
June 25, 2019
This is a really funny book, just like the Horrible Histories series. This book really is like the grownup version of the series.
It’s divided by reigning emperor and it tells what that person did, how they became emperor and how they died. It is a lot more in depth than any other history book I usually read and it’s NOT boring, which is a HUGE plus! That’s what I love about Terry Deary, his book are hilarious and make you want to read more.
Though, this one wasn’t my favourite of the bunch. I mean, it’s interesting, it’s funny, but I just wasn’t interested enough in it to truly love it. I really learned something from it, which is a plus because that’s what you want when you read non-fiction, but I just wasn’t invested in it. I really want to say more about this book, but I don’t feel like there is much else to say, it’s a non-fiction, hilarious, knowledgeable, uncommon with it’s information and just plain Terry Deary, it’s just a shame I’m not into the era!
Do I recommend this book if you ARE interested in the Roman era? Totally! Do I recommend it if you AREN’T interested in the Roman era? Still totally!
It’s divided by reigning emperor and it tells what that person did, how they became emperor and how they died. It is a lot more in depth than any other history book I usually read and it’s NOT boring, which is a HUGE plus! That’s what I love about Terry Deary, his book are hilarious and make you want to read more.
Though, this one wasn’t my favourite of the bunch. I mean, it’s interesting, it’s funny, but I just wasn’t interested enough in it to truly love it. I really learned something from it, which is a plus because that’s what you want when you read non-fiction, but I just wasn’t invested in it. I really want to say more about this book, but I don’t feel like there is much else to say, it’s a non-fiction, hilarious, knowledgeable, uncommon with it’s information and just plain Terry Deary, it’s just a shame I’m not into the era!
Do I recommend this book if you ARE interested in the Roman era? Totally! Do I recommend it if you AREN’T interested in the Roman era? Still totally!
January 9, 2017
Dangerous Days is Deary's new history series for adults, or at the very least young adults. It's in the juvenile section at my library, but that's really not an appropriate classification, at least not to me, as Deary discusses death in graphic medical detail and brings up sexual intrigue in, again, worrying detail. I'd save this for a preteen at the very earliest.
That said, I kind of love them. This is basically Deary's first series, Horrible Histories, that has been updated and aged up for an older audience. It has also been corrected for accuracy, as many of the Horrible Histories were written before several recent and major advances in historical research rendered many of them inaccurate. However, Deary sticks to his strengths here, concentrating on the little horrible details that really bring the past to life. Great books for the teenager who has aged past the Horrible Histories but still wants something fun and gruesome to read, or for the adult who refuses to age past the Horrible Histories but also wants something fun and gruesome to read. I'd definitely recommend these.
That said, I kind of love them. This is basically Deary's first series, Horrible Histories, that has been updated and aged up for an older audience. It has also been corrected for accuracy, as many of the Horrible Histories were written before several recent and major advances in historical research rendered many of them inaccurate. However, Deary sticks to his strengths here, concentrating on the little horrible details that really bring the past to life. Great books for the teenager who has aged past the Horrible Histories but still wants something fun and gruesome to read, or for the adult who refuses to age past the Horrible Histories but also wants something fun and gruesome to read. I'd definitely recommend these.
September 20, 2014
Alaric sent peace terms to Honorius. They were reasonable terms. Honorius rejected them on the reasonable grounds that he was an idiot.
A really enjoyable chronicle of the emperors of the Roman Empire. Trying to change the 'pure' image that the Roman Empire holds in a lot of people's minds, this book details why this period in time was anything but pure. One after another, insane men took the throne and made crazy decisions. Some of this is difficult to read, especially the executions, but it is really a great introduction to this period. The quick wit and dry observations are also much appreciated with some of the material being quite heavy on.
Dipping into elements of questioning daily life and even historiography, this book is highly recommended for all history lovers.
A really enjoyable chronicle of the emperors of the Roman Empire. Trying to change the 'pure' image that the Roman Empire holds in a lot of people's minds, this book details why this period in time was anything but pure. One after another, insane men took the throne and made crazy decisions. Some of this is difficult to read, especially the executions, but it is really a great introduction to this period. The quick wit and dry observations are also much appreciated with some of the material being quite heavy on.
Dipping into elements of questioning daily life and even historiography, this book is highly recommended for all history lovers.
August 13, 2014
It's a solid piece of work that acts as a refresher for those in-the-know about Rome's history with its emperors. Lots of information will be familiar, but it's presented in a very easy-to-digest style, and is peppered with many anecdotes and moments of debunking that might be surprising. However, I think it pushes the humour a bit too hard (even though it's supposed to be a humorous book). It IS rather funny on many occasions...but sometimes it gets a bit too obvious and too snarky for its own good. Overall, I think the author's reach ever so slightly exceeds his grasp.
March 10, 2016
There was something so strange about picking up a book by one of my favorite childhood authors (see Horrible Histories) as an adult, reading a book obviously for adults. His British humor and succinct writing style are pleasing, but I just couldn't get into the book.
It felt very rushed, and I would just zone out to be honest, which is strange considering the Roman's are fascinating to me. It was disappointing, unfortunately, and fell short of my recollections and expectations.
If you're looking for a brief overview of the Roman Empire, nothing too deep, then this is the book for you.
It felt very rushed, and I would just zone out to be honest, which is strange considering the Roman's are fascinating to me. It was disappointing, unfortunately, and fell short of my recollections and expectations.
If you're looking for a brief overview of the Roman Empire, nothing too deep, then this is the book for you.
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