The Private Life of the Romans: Updated and Revised Edition

by Harold Whetstone Johnston, David Elton Graves (Editor)

The 16 chapters present an overview of family structure, names, marriage, children and education, religion, dependents, slaves and client, the house and its furniture, dress and personal ornaments, food and meals, amusements and baths, travel and correspondence, books, sources of income and means of living, the Roman's day, burial-places and funeral ceremonies. These things are of interest to us in the case of any ancient or foreign people; in the case of the Romans they are of especial importance, because they help to explain the powerful influence that nation exerted over the old world, and make it easier to understand why that influence is still felt in some degree today. At the time of original publication in 1903, Harold Whetstone Johnston was Professor of Latin at Indiana University. He was also the author of Selected Orations and Letters of Cicero, Latin Manuscripts, and The Metrical Licenses of Vergil.

Genres: History, Ancient, Nonfiction

291 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

1859-1912

Reviews

[Fran]

Amazing amazing resource. Does suffer from "turn of the century" disease on a few things, especially women. Ex: says some things about how the Roman matron was the most powerful woman in the ancient world (neglecting the fact that she probably was married at like. 15. which makes her literally a child bride). There are also a few places where Johnston's language is quite vague or seems to contradict things he has said earlier, so you have to read carefully. There is highly detailed information about the toga, time, the layout of the home, and burial practices. I skimmed these more technical parts but some may find them useful. TBH mostly leaving this review because the only other person to write a review seems...kind of weird. I feel there must be at least one liberal in this Goodreads review section for The Private Life of the Romans and goddammit, it might as well be me.

[Sarah]

Very readable, if highly dated. Lots of references to things, "every school boy knows". As I am NOT a school boy circa 1903, I was occasionally confused, but I find this a better reference than Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome.

[lillian ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪]

i read this for school, but it’s overflowing with information about the roman’s a lot of things they did that many people would never think of. if ancient roman history interests you and you would like to know more or have questions to be answered, this would be the book to grab.

[Kathy]

I love this book, but don’t buy the Kindle edition…

It says it is enriched but it is literally the worst version of this book.It is hard to find a TOC and even then it just has chapter numbers rather than the names it normally has.

[Kiki]

终于！读完！了！这两三个月基本上没看其它的书就断断续续地在啃这本。我看的是中文版，很多地方翻得过于生硬，语句不流畅并且有些翻译的准确性存疑…味同嚼蜡的阅读体验翻译得负起一部分责任。书里从衣食住行全方位地介绍古罗马人的生活方式，但每个小章节都比较简短。广泛而不深入，对历史小白算友好了，我也确实学到了一些知识…不过还是不免觉得有点枯燥。