Pompeii Today: Bill Jennings

Latina lingua aeterna

A Vote For Latin by Harry Mount, from the December 3rd, 2007, New York Times:

At first glance, it doesn’t seem tragic that our leaders don’t study Latin anymore. But it is no coincidence that the professionalization of politics — which encourages budding politicians to think of education as mere career preparation — has occurred during an age of weak rhetoric, shifting moral values, clumsy grammar and a terror of historical references and eternal values that the Romans could teach us a thing or two about. As they themselves might have said, “Roma urbs aeterna; Latina lingua aeterna.”

Latin Lessons: O Tempora, O Mores: reader letters to the New York Times in response to Harry Mount's article.

BONUS: Harry Mount's article translated into Latin.

Full Disclosure: In April I was contacted by a photo researcher from Hyperion, Harry Mount's publisher, asking permission to reprint one of my Italy photos in the US edition of Mount's new book Carpe Diem: Put A Little Latin In Your Life. I would receive photographer credit but no compensation. I said I'd give my permission in exchange for a classroom set of the book (I'm a teacher, darn it). The researcher told me that she'd see what could be done, but I never heard back from her again.

New Miniseries

Caroline Lawrence's amazing Roman Mysteries series of young adult historical mystery novels will be produced as a five-hour television miniseries for the BBC, with a planned release on British television in 2007 or 2008. Filming will take place in Greece, Malta and Bulgaria.

Many BBC productions have very high production values; the best (mostly due to the high-powered cast of Shakespearean actors) was the landmark 1976 miniseries I, Claudius.

Much more information, including photos, can be found at Caroline Lawrence's production diaries, part of her official Roman Mysteries website.

Ms. Lawrence visited my school in March 2005 and spoke to my sixth-grade students. I have a small photo gallery from her trip. If you scroll down to the bottom third of Ms. Lawrence's July 2005 fanmail page, you can read letters and see scrolls made by my students. There's also a great photo of Ms. Lawrence surrounded by all of the students who came to hear her speak.

Bookshops

Here's a nice little list of bookstores that stock English-language books in Rome.

Special Issue

The current (May 2005) issue of Bon Appétit magazine focuses on the cuisine of three cities: Rome, Florence and Venice.

Here are the titles and bylines of some of the articles from this issue. See if you can resist!

COOKING FROM THE MARKETS — Evan Kleiman

AT A TRATTORIA TABLE — Lori De Mori

FLORENCE: A New Renaissance — Rand Richards Cooper

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A ROMAN COOK — David Downie

PASTA ROMANA — Carla Capalbo

VENI, VIDI, VENICE — Laurie Graham

ENTERTAINING WITH STYLE: Picnic on the Lido — Randi Danforth

ITALY ON ICE — Michele Scicolone

A TASTE OF ITALY: The Restaurant Directory

More Recommendations

Designer John Baird, who has a great set of photos from Rome, emailed me to recommend the guidebook City Secrets: Rome. He writes: "We got all the books but this one was the most intelligent and non-touristy."

I agree. This compact book is a dream: friends and Fellows of the American Academy at Rome suggest their favorite restaurants, cafes, hotels, and especially hidden tips. Many of the contributors are prominent classicists, historians, poets, novelists, and playwrights. Well worth your time.

Historical Readings

One thing that I'm trying to do for this trip is teach myself something about the art and history of the places that I'm visiting. I feel pretty comfortable with the classical period (although there's always more to learn). But it's the art of the Renaissance that I'm trying to learn more about.

Yesterday I picked up The Renaissance: A Short History by Paul Johnson. This is exactly the kind of book that I'm looking for. In brief but clear chapters, Johnson covers the history, literature, sculpture, architecture and painting of the Renaissance, focusing of course on Florence and Rome, but with excursions elsewhere. I know a little about figures such as Michelangelo and Raphael, but I'm more in the dark about Bramante, Giotto, Titian and Donatello, so this is a welcome addition to my library. It's a quick read, too; I finished three quarters of it yesterday afternoon.

In the same Modern Library series of brief introductions is The Reformation: A Short History by Patrick Collinson. I haven't browsed this yet, but it sounds intriguing. Much of the artistic excesses of the Baroque period in Rome can be chalked up to the Catholic Church's Counter-Reformation movement.

We next come to Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, a controversial if engaging political thriller set throughout many tourist-thronged sections of Rome. All the characters are cardboard-thin: either really really good, really really bad, or Not What They Seem. Some of it is quite silly (the main character is able to get across Rome in minutes without ever facing crowds of Italians or tourists), and the Science Vs Religion arguments seem forced. But it's always fun to read about places in Rome that you're likely to visit, and the major threat of a timebomb in the Vatican during a conclave is timelier now than it was when the book came out. At any rate, Brown's publisher is next month releasing the Illustrated Edition, which should feature many color photos of the sites and artwork mentioned in the text.

Finally I want to mention The Myths of Rome by T. P. Wiseman, an expensive if lavishly-illustrated volume on the stories that the Romans told themselves over and over again. It covers everything from the obviously mythical Romulus and Remus (with the she-wolf and the fratricide) to the obviously historical Antony and Cleopatra (with the foreign queen and the snake suicide).

Recommended books

Here are some books that I've had my eye on:

Lonely Planet City Guides: The three that I've been considering have been Rome, Florence, and Naples. Rome and Florence have been updated for 2004, while Naples is brand new for 2005. Good solid information in a compact package.

Suggested Books

Some books that I recommend:

Rick Steves's Rome 2005 -- Some may think it corny, but I love the Rick Steves's books.  His guides to Rome and Italy helped me immensely last year. Rick and co-writer Gene Openshaw manage to tell you the best things to focus on while also mentioning little facts that you'll be glad you learned.  Light and breezy.

Eyewitness Guide: Rome-- great, full-color photos of the entire city and all the major attractions.

Fodor's Exploring Rome -- 2005 edition, lots of photos, great detailed text.

Blue Guide: Rome -- Best at conveying a GREAT DEAL of information in a short space.  No photos, but plenty of maps and site plans.  I'll carry this and the Rick Steves everywhere I go in Rome.

Hidden Rome -- nice mini-essays about different aspects of Roman life, from an insider.  Frank Korn also wrote A Catholic's Guide to Rome, which I haven't read yet.  These books would be good for the first-time visitor.

Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide -- Amanda Claridge's guide is best for the expert interested in the physical remains of ancient Rome.  Someone like me.

The Companion Guide to Rome -- Georgina Masson's masterpiece.  Incredibly detailed.

Rome Alive -- a new guide consisting of English translations of ancient writers describing different spots in Rome.

Caroline Lawrence's Roman Mysteries

I highly recommend Caroline Lawrence's engaging and interesting Roman Mysteries series of historical fiction novels. I especially recommend the official Roman Mysteries website, which has information on all of the books, including:

• The Thieves of Ostia  (Learn about the historical background of ancient Ostia and read the first chapter)


• Book Two:  The Secrets of Vesuvius  (read the first chapter)


• Book Three: The Pirates of Pompeii (read the first chapter)


• Book Four:  The Assassins of Rome (read the first chapter)


• Book Five:  The Dolphins of Laurentum (read the first chapter)


• Book Six:  The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina (read an excerpt from the first chapter)


• Book Seven: The Enemies of Jupiter (NOT YET AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.!  But you can still read an excerpt)


• Book Eight: The Gladiator from Capua (NOT YET AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.!  But read the excerpt from the first chapter)


• Book Nine:  The Colossus of Rhodes (NOT YET PUBLISHED ANYWHERE, but due in the U.K. in April.  Read the sneak preview!)

You can also read the following Roman Mysteries short stories online for free!:

• Bread and Circuses:  Takes place after the fifth book, The Dolphins of Laurentum


• The Case of the Missing Coin:  Takes place after the sixth book, The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina


• Jonathan vs. Ira:  Takes place after the seventh book, The Enemies of Jupiter