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A Short History of Ancient Rome

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A Short History of Ancient Rome

By: Pascal Hughes
Narrated by: John Hopkins
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Roman world, and meet its most intriguing and influential characters, as this immersive account brings 1000 years of history to life.

Immerse yourself in the dramatic and thrilling thousand-year story of Ancient Rome. Combining impeccable research with action packed storytelling, this riveting short history explores the inception, expansion and ultimate fall of one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.

Walk Rome’s bustling streets, witness the fearsome exploits of its all-conquering army and step into the opulent corridors of its palaces and pioneering building projects. Follow Hannibal as he crosses the snowcapped Alps with elephants in tow, shadow Julius Caesar as he ponders whether to cross the Rubicon river, and look on as Cicero delivers an impassioned speech to the Senate.

In a Bacchanalian feast of despotic rulers, colossal conquests, visionary women, gladiator games and the daily life of Roman citizens and subjects, A Short History of Ancient Rome charts the dramatic twists
and turns of the kingdom, the republic, the empire and its decline, as you navigate this crucial period in history.

© Pascal Hughes 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Critic Reviews

Packed with more detail and colour than many books twice its size, Hughes brings the epic story of Rome vividly to life (Paul Cooper)
A vibrant story of ancient Rome's triumphs and tragedies, bringing life to the men and women whose deeds and legacies shaped the western world. (Dr David Gwynn)
All stars
Most relevant
I’m a big fan of these podcasts, so the book was a great surprise! The content is well selected and structured as an intro to Ancient Roman history - enough detail to give you a good understanding of different periods but not dry or boring. I really like that each chapter is relatively self-contained and 30ish minutes, excellent to listen to on public transport or before bed. The narration is superb, I find John Hopkins voice clear and soothing. Highly recommend and can’t wait for more books :)

High quality intro to Ancient Rome

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