Viggen 95 Report post Posted September 16, 2006 Another review has been completed for our Roman Books section, thanks to community member Pertinax. This book provides an excellent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miguel 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2006 Nice review. "as history was dismissed as during my remote school days" Why was that? btw the book cover is cool =) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pertinax 3 Report post Posted September 16, 2006 Nice review. "as history was dismissed as during my remote school days" Why was that? btw the book cover is cool =) It was frowned upon because it was not considered to be as "useful" as physics, chemistry and maths. The chemistry has come in very handy though since.Thank you for the compliment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ursus 6 Report post Posted September 16, 2006 Well, given the "artistic" types I met at college I share a certain skepticism about self-declared artists - but this is the first time I have seen history lumped in with the arts! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DecimusCaesar 1 Report post Posted September 16, 2006 Excellent review for an excellent book. I've been reading through it recently and I liked the chapter about how the Roman's despised many of the Greek cultural traits and the Greeks looked down on the Romans for being "Overly religious". It shows how much the Greeks and Romans differed from each other and how much they were the same. I think Tom Holland and many other younger scholars have criticised Lane Fox as being too old fashioned and for ignoring new research in some fields (concerning the Barbarian tribes and the persians) he supposedly takes the view that they were either 'savages' when talking of the barbarians and 'effeminate and decadent' when it comes to the Persians. Just like the Greeks and Romans saw these people. I will try to find that review for you... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pertinax 3 Report post Posted September 16, 2006 Thank you DC. Lane Fox strikes me as a man in command of his subject ,( across a staggering range of cultural detail). I suspect that his rounded prose is an issue with "moderns". I enjoyed his donnish wit very much, I think it reveals a love of the English language. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DecimusCaesar 1 Report post Posted September 16, 2006 I've found the review... Tom Holland Review Personally I really liked the book as well as Lane Fox's 'Alexander the Great' (another book I recommend), but I believe that Holland and other modern cholars might be offended by Lane Fox's "old fashioned" views on the Classical World. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miguel 0 Report post Posted September 17, 2006 It was frowned upon because it was not considered to be as "useful" as physics, chemistry and maths. The chemistry has come in very handy though since.Thank you for the compliment. Too bad ... I have a similar story to yours; I am not studying history at school now because the education system for Form 4 (=grade 10 in UK) students have to choose between studying science or art, and I choose science as it would provide me a brighter future, but I really like history more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
