Rome: A Cultural History

by Jonathan Boardman

Jonathan Boardman uncovers Rome's multi-facted experience, where each layer of development rests upon the foundation of a preexisting tradition. In a place where political and religious idealogies have always expressed themselves through art, he also highlights a vibrant popular culture--from gladiatorial shows to the local Roma-Lazio soccer derby.

Genres: History, Travel

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2000

Reviews

[Steven Walle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I will give a full review at a later date.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this different kind of travel guide of Rome. Boardman meanders through Roman history and its ever evolving culture. It took a little getting used to his style but by the end I learned a lot about Rome and its atmosphere, which came in handy when I visited this wonderful city. He begins talking about ancient Rome and the marvels of the cloaca maxima and other plumbing architecture and the effect it had on the development of the greatest empire the world has seen. He then talks about the caesars, the middle ages when Rome deteriorated, the revival under the popes and his favorite areas and monuments. He chose things that mean a lot to him instead of trying to cram every aspect of the city into the book. Rome is just too big and too full to adequately write about it completely. He brings up things that people wouldn't know about, like Barberini, the shop where people of the cloth buy their clothing and jewels. It somehow never occurred to me that priests and nuns did their own shopping! He ends the book addressing Rome in its modern, current phase with its troubling politics and the way Romans cope. He also emphasizes that Rome is made up of individuals and is not a homogeneous people, even as they all consider themselves authentic Romans. Boardman successfully covers a broad swath of Rome, making it accessible while not overwhelming the reader with information.

[Lorraine Tosiello · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slim volume of capricious essays on Rome, attempting to encapsulate its cultural history. An impossible task but quite readable. For people who REALLY love Rome only...

[Ralph Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonathan Boardman is the Anglican vicar of Rome, which gives him a unique access to the ecclesiastical world of the eternal city. He has a deep knowledge of both its major monuments and some of the little known, fascinating byways that will always surprise even those who have lived there. He wears his learning lightly, focusing on personalities and places that offer a chance to create a free-wheeling history of Rome that aims to be evocative rather than exhaustive. Jonathan Boardman tries to stimulate the reader's imagination; his writing is sensitive and responsive to the different facets and moods of the city. He connects the past to the present and introduces us to a wide range of Romans, visitors, artists, writers, film directors and would be leaders. His manner is discursive; one chapter dealing with the Papacy in the middle ages starts with a quotation from Shelley's 'The Cenci' and moves to the torpor of Monday afternoon when the attractions of the city are closed. This leads to the Castel St Angelo - which used to be a haven for the tourist looking for something open - and a thoughtful discussion of its role in the 'dark ages' of Rome. Much of the book will be new to most readers; few visit EUR, Mussolini's contribution to the grandeur of the capital, which includes the strange 'Museo della Civilta Romana' in which a huge number of models of every aspect of Roman life that the Duce had made for two international exhibitions still repose in dusty splendour. This book is still in print and whether you want to visit Rome or enjoy armchair travel you could not do better than to read it. He has also written a book on Umbria.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be kind and give it 3 though I wanted to give it 2. Like having a casual conversation with an acquaintance about Rome. Nothing earth-shattering here. Sports, Metro, department stores, Mussolini, restaurants, English, millenium, food, traffic, the Popes..

Update: reading a second time - it makes a little more sense having lived in Rome now for a year but it is still pretty much on the light and casual side.

[Dan Piette]

A great travel/literary book about Rome. From the