Social life at Rome in the Age of Cicero

Delving into the bustling streets, homes, and dining rooms of the late Republic, this study brings the world of Cicero’s contemporaries to life. Drawing primarily on the extensive correspondence that survived him, the author reveals how Romans educated their children, observed religious rites, and navigated social obligations. The narrative shows that the era’s cultural texture was as vital to its history as the famous political dramas.

The book is organized around a vivid topographical tour of ancient Rome, complemented by detailed plans of villas, triclinium layouts, and even the famed “Silver Wedding” house at Pompeii. Illustrated maps guide the reader from the modern city’s rail stations back to the riverbanks where Aeneas once arrived, helping anyone who has never set foot in the ruins to picture the city’s original shape. Throughout, the author relies on carefully vetted editions of Cicero’s letters, ensuring that each anecdote rests on solid scholarship.

Designed for both students and curious general readers, the work fills a long‑standing gap in English‑language studies of Roman social customs. It invites listeners to imagine the everyday conversations, celebrations, and concerns that animated a civilization on the brink of transformation, making the ancient world feel surprisingly familiar.