I know my classical history backwards and forwards, yet although this book is an "overview" of classical antiquity, I was still captivated by it. It has illustrations I have seldom seen elsewhere, was concise when it came to well-trodden themes (3 pages summarizing the Iliad and the Odyssey), but expansive in less familiar territory (four pages about the grotto at Sperlonga, including four illustrations, and a sidebar). Sidebars included numerous quotes from original texts (for example next to the discussion about Helen, was a quote from the "view from the walls" scene in the Iliad, a quote from Aeschylus' Agamemnon where her name is connected to a form of the Greek verb meaning 'to destroy' - helein - and a scene from Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus with the protagonist waxing lyrical about Helen's beauty).

This is an admirable book. Unlike most general histories of this kind (often meant as an introduction for a not very discriminating kind of reader and loaded with illustrations that are barely connected to the text) this is a book that takes its reader seriously. And that is a pleasure not always experienced. In ten thematic chapters it treats antiquity in a general, but sometimes also very detailed and scholarly way, constantly debating the points it makes, and warning the reader against easy judgments. Illustrations are great and even when most of the classics are there, it is amazing how original the choice of photos now and then is, how well they are integrated in the text, and how detailed are the captions. It has obviously been an important principle in choosing the illustrations: explain everything. Although it is well written, it doesn' t always make for light reading. The authors are not afraid to debate questionable points, for instance the pairing of epic poetry with early figurative representations, something which The Panorama of the Classical world itself does all the time. The book serves very well as an introduction for anyone interested, but is at the same time a pleasure to read for people who know their history. The book has a timeline, a few maps, a glossary, and interestingly, a 10 pages lexicon of classical lives, an 8 pages guide to mythology, and a reference for further reading.

A great book to use before a trip to Europe and as a wonderful memory aid after a trip. Beautiful pictures, interesting info.