Try free for 30 days

Preview
  • SPQR

  • A History of Ancient Rome
  • By: Mary Beard
  • Narrated by: Phyllida Nash
  • Length: 18 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (66 ratings)

1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

SPQR

By: Mary Beard
Narrated by: Phyllida Nash
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.99

Buy Now for $33.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Sunday Times top 10 best seller.

Shortlisted for a British Book Industry Book of the Year Award 2016.

The new series Ultimate Rome: Empire Without Limit is on BBC2.

Ancient Rome matters.

Its history of empire, conquest, cruelty and excess is something against which we still judge ourselves. Its myths and stories - from Romulus and Remus to the Rape of Lucretia - still strike a chord with us. And its debates about citizenship, security and the rights of the individual still influence our own debates on civil liberty today.

SPQR is a new look at Roman history from one of the world's foremost classicists. It explores not only how Rome grew from an insignificant village in Central Italy to a power that controlled territory from Spain to Syria, but also how the Romans thought about themselves and their achievements, and why they are still important to us. Covering 1,000 years of history and casting fresh light on the basics of Roman culture from slavery to running water, as well as exploring democracy, migration, religious controversy, social mobility and exploitation in the larger context of the empire, this is a definitive history of ancient Rome.

SPQR is the Romans' own abbreviation for their state: Senatus Populusque Romanus, 'the Senate and People of Rome'.

©2016 Mary Beard (P)2016 Hachette Audio UK
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about SPQR

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    44
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    43
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    36
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant

Third time reading and I can’t get enough! It’s absolutely the best read for anyone wanting to explore the ancients!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

History!!

Very detailed and interesting snap shot into Ancient Rome. Filled with info about emperors, way of life and conquests.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a thorough work.

enjoyed it very much. a thorough work that has given me a understanding of the period.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating and fresh

This well researched and well written book is a fascinating and fresh take on ancient Rome. Well worth the time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very Detailed

A very detailed look at Ancient Rome up until the 2nd Century, or the end of the Claudian Era.
Overall the book is very interesting, and added a lot to my understanding. Would be great for students as it doesn't dwell on anything too long.
Personally I would have liked to have some information of what people outside Rome (either in the colonies or the wider world) thought of the Romans. We know that Arab scholars wrote about them, but the juxtaposition between their thoughts and the Romans we hear from in this work would have been great.
This is very much a Classicists view of Rome, so there's no real surprises - which isn't a bad thing I guess.
The narration is excellent. I felt a bit like I was at school with a really well informed teacher! The authoritarian nature of the voice over adds weight to it. excellent casting.
Good for history students, especially high school, but if you've already read widely and you're after something new, this may not be as interesting.qql

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great for someone already knowledgeable on Roman history

This book was quite good, but for anyone that is dipping their toe into Roman history I would suggest they read a quick summary (like a Wikipedia page) on the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and early Roman Empire to gain a framework for the time period of this book. It jumps around a bit and goes into minute detail, so it’s best approached as a book providing a great deal of context and colour for someone who already has a basic knowledge on the topic. I found I had to stop several times and zoom out to figure out what time period or circumstances were being discussed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.