Book recommendation? Ancient Rome, Pompeii, etc....

[Flaxbee]

looking for a good history for my mother, who is particularly interested in the art/antiquities of ancient Rome. Nothing huge and scholarly, just more general interest. Her eyes aren't that good and she has trouble holding heavy things (books included) b/c of joint pain & weakness, all the more reason for a "light" treatment of the subject.

If anyone knows of such a book, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

[eShirl]

1. Colleen McCullough has a good, extensively-researched historical fiction series

set in the later Roman Republic (the time of Gaius Marius onward). It really brought ancient Rome alive for me, so much so that I began studying Latin. You could try the first book in the series, "The First Man in Rome," and see if she likes it. Amazon.com has it in several formats, inexpensive used copies (including audiobook), but no large print version that I could find.

[Big Blue Marble]

2. "The First Man In Rome" is an excellent suggestion.

I would also recommend:

"Imperium" Robert Harris Fictionalized bio of Cicero.
"Pompei, a Novel" also by Harris

"The Memoirs of Cleopatra" Margaret George. An well-researched fictionalized bio of
Cleopatra including her relationships with Rome, Caesar, Anthony, and Octavian. This is a very
long book, but it is available as a delicious audio book at Audible.com as are all the other books
listed here.

"The History of the Roman Republic" Volumes One and Two. Cyril Robinson Excellent overview of the early Romans up to the fall of the Republic.

All these books are available as downloads from Audible.com with a membership for as little as about 10 dollars each.