It's a fairly entertaining book, though for all the wrong reasons. Carcopino makes sweeping declarations about things that don't seem to be supported, and has fairly quaint ideas - that Roman women stayed indoors and idle because they chose to do so, for example. His analysis of Roman religion is outdated. But the prose is that mid-century sort of magisterial tone, even when he's probably wrong, and so it was at least worth reading.

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One of those books everyone should read. ( )

Daily Life in Ancient Rome turned out to be a fairly readable book although some sections were better than others. Originally written before WWII by a French archaeologist and translated into English for publication by Yale University Press (c.1940) the language can be a bit stiff and dry at time. However, I found it worthwhile because there are a wealth of details about life in the city of Rome during the second century CE.

Part 1 covers the extent and population of the city, houses and streets, society and class, marriage and the family, education, and religion with great thoroughness. Part 2 then takes the reader through a Roman citizen's day discussing the morning routine, occupations, leisure activities such as the games and other spectacles, the baths, and finishing with dinner in the evening.

This book appears on a least one "must read" list and while fairly old there are few comprehensive books about everyday life in the city of Rome for this time period. However, Carcopino does allow his personal prejudices about the Roman lifestyle to come through so I only cautiously recommend it.

I read this first in German and on loan from our public library. When I bought the English version secondhand, I found that it is shorter than the German one (and presumably than the original French, too). The information it provides is very detailed, but the interpretation is too much coloured by prejudice. ( )

A fascinating book, but definitely a scholarly/academic work; very thorough but a little bit on the dry side. ( )