NAKED STATUES, FAT GLADIATORS, AND WAR ELEPHANTS Frequently Asked Questions About the Ancient Greeks and Romans

Stephen Graybill is a highly agreeable narrator and one particularly effective in grounding specialized or niche subjects. Ancient history is far down the list of most people's interests, but author Garrett Ryan's narrative focuses not on the victories and defeats of famous armies, but on the particulars of their gear bags and footwear, their daily diets and beliefs. Despite its somewhat jocular title, this angle on Greek and Roman life turns out to be richer and more rewarding in its conciseness than any dozen stolid histories of ancient rise and fall. Graybill's companionable voice takes us into the kitchens and alleyways of old Greece and Rome, in all their smells and clamor. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2022]