Robin Lane Fox's The Classical World An Epic History of Greece & Rome is a comprehensive & enthralling introduction to Ancient civilization The classical civilizations of Greece & Rome dominated the world for centuries & continue to intrigue & enlighten us with their inventions whether philosophy politics theatre athletics celebrity science or the pleasures of horse racing Robin Lane Fox's spellbinding history spans almost a thousand years of change from the foundation of the world's first democracy in Athens to the Roman Republic & the Empire under Hadrian Bringing great figures such as Homer Socrates Cicero Alexander Antony & Cleopatra Julius Caesar Augustus & the first Christian martyrs to life exploring freedom justice & luxury this wonderfully exciting tour brings the turbulent histories of Greece & Rome together in a masterly study ' Epic in the true sense' The Times Books of the Year ' He writes supremely well a keen eye for the telling detail & powerful example the humanity of the exercise shines through compulsory & compulsive reading' Peter Jones Sunday Telegraph Robin Lane Fox is a Fellow of New College Oxford & a University Reader in Ancient History His other books include Alexander the Great Pagans & Christians & The Unauthorized Version He was historical advisor to Oliver Stone on the making of Stone's film Alexander for which he waived all his fees on condition that he could take part in the cavalry charge against elephants which Stone staged in the Moroccan desert