A Grand Tour of the Roman Empire by Marcus Sidonius Falx

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Description

'Toner again spins a tale that is enjoyable and informative.' - The Times

Tour the Roman Empire at its height with Marcus Sidonius Falx and his amanuensis, Dr Jerry Toner.

Travelling east, Falx explores the great cultural centre of Athens before trekking into rural Asia (or Turkey as we know it), past the already ancient Luxor monuments in Roman Egypt, and by the Great Library of Alexandria. Travelling west across the breadbasket of the Empire, he journeys through Gaul (France) before crossing to Britannia, where he suffers the worst that provincial life has to offer.

Falx provides practical advice on surviving all things travel: from pirates and shipwrecks to bedbugs and lousy food. Even the most sedentary reader will feel they have experienced life in the Empire first-hand.

Reviews

'A quirky, witty jaunt across the Roman world in the 2nd century' - Patrick Kidd

'[Marcus Sidonius Falx is] a fascinating creation ... Here we have a chatty, persuasive, and even likeable voice guiding us through the minutiae of a morally repulsive institution' - Times Literary Supplement

'Falx's text, illuminated by Toner's commentary, is by turns charming, haughty, and brutal' - New Yorker

Praise for Jerry Toner and Marcus Sidonius Falx:

Thought-provoking and illuminating' - FT

'Illuminating and packs a punch' - Times Higher Education

Author Bio

Marcus Sidonius Falx is a Roman of noble birth. To help make his book accessible for a non-Roman audience, he has employed the services of Dr Jerry Toner, Fellow and Director of Studies in Classics, Churchill College, Cambridge University. Toner has also co-written How to Manage Your Slaves and Infamy.