
A delightfully irreverent guide to the rise of Rome, this work treats the ancient city’s legendary beginnings with a light‑hearted wink while staying true to the facts. From the twin brothers rescued by a shepherd to the dubious reign of the last king, the author spins the familiar myths into witty anecdotes that keep listeners both amused and informed. The preface makes clear that the humor never sacrifices accuracy, aiming instead to expose the absurdities that have long clouded the traditional narrative.
Moving beyond the foundation myths, the book follows the early Republic’s colorful characters—courageous heroes, scheming senators, and the occasional hapless commoner—through their dramatic clashes and surprising triumphs. Each episode is narrated with a brisk, conversational style that feels like a lively lecture rather than a dry textbook. Listeners will come away with a solid grounding in Rome’s formative years, all while smiling at the clever commentary that brings ancient history to life.
Language
en
Duration
~13 hours (796K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Margo Romberg, crana and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2011-10-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1811–1856
A lively Victorian humorist and dramatist, he helped shape the comic spirit of Punch while also writing for the stage and the law. His work mixed satire, journalism, and popular entertainment in a way that made him a familiar voice in 19th-century Britain.
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