Description
Book SynopsisAn exploration of the emotional and spiritual life of the ancient Romans, focusing on the sentiments of honour that shaped the Romans' sense of themselves and their society. The book draws on contemporary theories of the self and social theory to deepen the reader's understanding of ancient Rome.
Trade Review"A bold book. . . . written with passion. Like her earlier
Sorrows of the Ancient Romans, it is also likely to arouse passionate responses, positive and negative, among her professional colleagues. The pace is rapid, the argument built up under short vivid sub-sections." * Times Literary Supplement *
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. A Sort of Prelude: The Tao of the Romans PART ONE: The Moment of Truth in Ancient Rome: Honor and Embodiment in a Contest Culture 3. Light and Fire 4. Stone and Ice: The Remedies of Dishonor PART TWO Confession and the Roman Soul 5. The Spirit Speaking 6. Confession and the Remedies of Defeat PART THREE: On the Wire: The Experience of Shame in Ancient Rome 7. The Poise of Shame 8. The Poison of Shame{--} and Its Antidotes 9. Conclusions: Choosing Life Philosophical Coda: The Sentiment and the Symbol Bibliography Index
