In SPQR, an instant classic, Mary Beard narrates the history of Rome with passion and without technical jargon, demonstrating how a slightly shabby Iron Age village rose to become the undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean. Hailed by critics for animating the grand sweep and the intimate details that bring the distant past vividly to life, this work spans nearly a thousand years of history. It is described as highly informative and highly readable, examining not just how we think of ancient Rome but also challenging the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries. With its nuanced attention to class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries, SPQR will shape our view of Roman history for decades to come.