For anyone who has spent more than ten seconds in the SRR, it will have become apparent that we have a lot of books. Some might even say too many. They would, of course, be mistaken. There’s no such thing as too many books.
As a volunteer for the research room, I’ve spent a lot of time looking at these books from my little station by the front door. There are of course the very fancy books hiding behind glass cases, but I’ve also noticed a whole selection of what might be termed ‘free range books’.
So, having spent many hours wondering exactly what books might be roaming out there, I have decided to bring you, reader, on an exploration of the SRR…
Tyranny and Transformation:
Today’s book is ‘Tyranny and Transformation in Roman Portraiture’, by Eric Varner with contributions by many many different people. This book was found on our Classical Art and Archaeology shelves (2M.25/28), on the bottom shelf just beside Greek Sculpture.
The book feels like an art book, you know? Like if you went to a museum exhibition on Roman busts, you could buy this at the end. There’s a very pretty picture of Caligula on the front, promising us many exciting adventures into Rome’s bad emperors.
And how far wrong can you go, really? Everyone loves the bad emperors and this book is full of them. I mean, it has good emperors too but, like, whose favourite emperor is Trajan?
What I will say is that the book promises, and delivers, many pictures of Roman busts. If Caligula, Nero, Otho or Domitian are your favourites, you’re definitely going to get what you came for. This book has tons on them and, even if you don’t want to read anything, loads of very pretty pictures.
Rating: 8/10
Thoughts: We love to see Caligula.
Until next time!
