Rome : a history in seven sackings

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Waterstone's Book of the Month, 2018 Nominated for the 2017 Pen Hessell-Tiltman Daily Telegraph's Best History Books of 2017 Sunday Times'Best History Books of 2017 A sweeping history of the city of Rome, seen through the eyes of its most significant sackings, from the Gauls to the Nazis and everything in between. No city on earth has preserved its past as Rome has. Visitors can cross bridges that were crossed by Cicero and Julius Caesar, explore temples visited by Roman emperors, and step into churches that have hardly changed since popes celebrated mass in them sixteen centuries ago. These architectural survivals are all the more remarkable considering the many disasters that have struck the city. Rome has been afflicted by earthquakes, floods, fires and plagues, but most of all it has been repeatedly ravaged by roving armies. From the Gauls to the Nazis, Matthew Kneale tells the stories behind the seven most important of these attacks and reveals, with fascinating insight, how they transformed the city - and not always for the worse. Using this entirely new approach to Rome's past he unveils how it became the city it is today. A meticulously researched, magical blend of travelogue, social and cultural history, Rome: A History in Seven Sackings is a celebration of the fierce courage, panache and vitality of the Roman people. Most of all, it is a passionate love letter to this incomparable city.'A masterpiece of pacing and suspense'Sunday Times'Fascinating... A delight'The Times'Book of the Week' No city on earth has preserved its past as has Rome. Visitors stand on bridges that were crossed by Julius Caesar and Cicero, walk around temples visited by Roman emperors, and step into churches that have hardly changed since popes celebrated mass in them sixteen centuries ago. These architectural survivals are all the more remarkable considering the violent disasters that have struck the city. Afflicted by earthquakes, floods, fires and plagues, it has most of all been repeatedly ravaged by roving armies. Rome: A History in Seven Sackings examines the most important of these attacks and reveals, with fascinating insight, how they transformed the city - and not always for the worse. From the Gauls to the Nazis, Kneale vividly recounts those threatening the city, while drawing an intense and vibrant portrait of the city and its inhabitants, both before and after being attacked. In these troubled times when our cities can seem fragile, Rome's history offers a picture that is both shocking and also reassuring. Like the Neapolitans from Norman Lewis's Naples 44 , Romans have repeatedly shrugged off catastrophes and made their city anew. A meticulously researched, magical and novel blend of travelogue, social and cultural history, Rome: A History in Seven Sackings is part celebration of the fierce courage, panache and vitality of the Roman people, and part passionate love letter to Rome. This is a popular history of the famous, incomparable city like no other. No City On Earth Has Preserved Its Past As Has Rome. Visitors Stand On Bridges That Were Crossed By Julius Caesar And Cicero, Walk Around Temples Visited By Roman Emperors, And Step Into Churches That Have Hardly Changed Since Popes Celebrated Mass In Them Sixteen Centuries Ago. These Architectural Survivals Are All The More Remarkable Considering The Violent Disasters That Have Struck The City. Afflicted By Earthquakes, Floods, Fires And Plagues, It Has Most Of All Been Repeatedly Ravaged By Roving Armies. Rome: A History In Seven Sackings Examines The Most Important Of These Attacks And Reveals, With Fascinating Insight, How They Transformed The City - And Not Always For The Worse. From The Gauls To The Nazis, Kneale Vividly Recounts Those Threatening The City, While Drawing An Intense And Vibrant Portrait Of The City And Its Inhabitants, Both Before And After Being Attacked. In These Troubled Times When Our Cities Can Seem Fragile, Rome's History Offers A Picture That Is Both Shocking And Also Reassuring. Like The Neapolitans From Norman Lewis's Naples 44, Romans Have Repeatedly Shrugged Off Catastrophes And Made Their City Anew. Matthew Kneale. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 367-384) And Index.