Amazon.com
The Gospel narratives may suggest that Jesus was divine, but they do not insist upon it. Hundreds of years after Jesus' death, the Church councils made Jesus' divinity a central tenet of belief among many of his followers. When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ's Divinity in the Last Days of Rome by Richard Rubenstein is a narrative history of Christians' early efforts to define Christianity by convening councils and writing creeds. Rubenstein is most interested in the battle between Arius, Presbyter of Alexandria, and Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria. Arius said that Christ did not share God's nature but was the first creature God created. Athanasius said that Christ was fully God. At the Council of Nicea in 325, the Church Fathers came down on Athanasius's side and made Arius's belief a heresy.
Rubenstein's brisk, incisive prose brings the councils' 4th-century Roman setting fully alive, with riots, civil strife, and spectacular public debates. Rubenstein is also personally invested in the meaning of these councils for religious life today: he wrote this book, in part, because he grew up in a mixed Jewish Catholic neighborhood and was bewildered by animosity between the religious groups on his block. Digging back in history, Rubenstein learns that before the Arian controversy, "Jews and Christians could talk to each other and argue among themselves about crucial issues like the divinity of Jesus.... They disagreed strongly about many things, but there was still a closeness between them." But when the controversy was settled, Rubenstein notes, "that closeness faded. To Christians, God became a Trinity and heresy became a crime. Judaism became a form of infidelity. And Jews living in Christian countries learned not to think very much about Jesus and his message." --Michael Joseph Gross
Book Description
The story of Jesus is well known, as is the story of Christian persecutions during the Roman Empire. The history of fervent debate, civil strife, and bloody riots within the Christian community as it was coming into being, however, is a side of ancient history rarely described. Richard E. Rubenstein takes the reader to the streets of the Roman Empire during the fourth century, when a fateful debate over the divinity of Jesus Christ is being fought. Ruled by a Christian emperor, followers of Jesus no longer fear for the survival of their monotheistic faith but break into two camps regarding the direction of their worship. Is Jesus the son of God and therefore not the same as God? Or is Jesus precisely God on earth and therefore equal to Him? The vicious debate is led by two charismatic priests. Arius, an Alexandrian priest and poet, preaches that Jesus, though holy, is less than God. Athanasius, a brilliant and violent bishop, sees any diminution of Jesus' godhead as the work of the devil. Between them stands Alexander, the powerful Bishop of Alexandria, who must find a resolution that will keep the empire united and the Christian faith alive. With thorough historical, religious, and social research, Rubenstein vividly recreates one of the most critical moments in the history of religion.
Customer Reviews:
Arius-centric Part of a Big Story.......2007-08-16
Rubenstein's engaging history of the subject is very readable and approachable by anyone with an interest in early Christianity. It is easy for a history book to become dry and 'slow down,' but this one does not suffer from that defect.
As you might guess from the title, the work's focus is Christological in nature the events described swirl around a handful of personalities relating to the Arian heresy, and the efforts of early Christian thinkers and leaders to spell out just who this Jesus guy was. The picture painted by Rubenstein is one of a controversy that was just as political as it was theological.
If Christology is your interest, then "When Jesus Became God" is an excellent choice, but this is not an exhaustive history that gives you speculations on the particular sects that have died out and all of the personalities involved, nor does it pretend to be such.
faith.......2007-08-13
I'm reading several books simultaneously therefore am only two thirds thru this book. If you like history as well as christianity discussion you will enjoy this book. What a wild time the early centuries of christianity were!
Great book.......2007-05-23
This is a wonderful read. It delves into the socio-political machinations of how Jesus of Nazereth became what we call the "Son of God". It pits the Arians vs the Athanasians in a heated battle to determine whether Jesus is made of God, or whether Jesus IS God. It spans several generations from the Council of Nicaea to the end of the fourth century. Is Jesus the Son of God as the Gospel states? Is Jesus made from the same stuff as God but not equal to God? Read this book and decide for yourself. Do not blindly follow the Gospels. Read the Gospels, read this book, then decide for yourself.
A history of split between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christianity.......2007-02-02
This book relates in detail the history of transformation of Jesus from just beeing a Son of God to God himself through the concept of Trinity. This concept for six centuries saved Christianity from split related to the disagreements regarding the degree of sameness between Jesus and God . The deep lingering disagreements within Christian Religion regarding this question finally led to a monumental split into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. The best book on history of Christianity from Jewish cult to an independent monotheistic religion which had to fit Jesus as God into a monotheistic religious foundation based on Holy Spirit concept of God.
The Nature of Jesus.......2007-01-31
This is a dramatic history of defining events as they unfolded in the establishment of early Christian doctrine. I once believed that Jesus was 'True God of True God'. Readers of this book will surely appreciate, as I now do, that there were from the beginning other beliefs on the nature of Jesus than those assiduously promoted today by many mainline churches.
Book Description
In the bitter winter of AD 44, the Roman troops in Britain are impatiently awaiting the arrival of spring so that the campaign to conquer the island can be renewed. But the native Britons are growing more cunning in their resistance, constantly snapping at the heels of the mighty Roman forces.
When the most brutal of the native tribesmen, the Druids of the Dark Moon, capture the shipwrecked wife and children of General Plautius, quick action is called for. Two volunteers from the crack Second Legion must venture deep into hostile territory in a desperate attempt to rescue the prisoners.
Centurion Macro and his optio, Cato, find themselves slipping out of camp in the dead of night to reach the General's family before they are sacrificed to the Druids' dark gods. They know they are heading towards an almost certain death, and their only hope is that, with sheer courage and ingenuity, they can outwit the most ruthless foes they've ever faced.
Customer Reviews:
The eagle formula continues.......2007-06-21
A good read, with Macro and Cato continuing to get into and out of scrapes. The first in the series was a very good read and spurred me to continue. This was the second I read, even though out of sequence (The Eagle's Conquest is the second of the series). I am a bit disappointed in this one because of the profuse amount of British slang, e.g.,"Oi! Careful, you hopeless wankers. I've got your number." I may read more of the series but I'm not as enthusiastic as after the first.
Third Gear and Going.......2007-01-15
Well, once you've got a good thing going, it's easy to grab the next book by an author. Not since Lawhead have I been anticipating the next release so eagerly. Some might say the pacing is slow in spots, the heavy-duty action of a Roman Legion is replaced by another focus, and so on... well, this is a fine read by a good author. The Druid aspect is quite well done and as a whole, Scarrow paints an inviting landscape and characters, though it's the foggy barrowlands and harsh conditions of an isolated mission. The blade is still sharp here.
I love this series........2006-01-29
I got sucked into this series from the first, and all you can do is avoid starting. The chararacters are pals after the first books.
Macro and Cato vrs the Druids.......2005-07-29
The family of the commander of the Roman legions have been kidnapped by the most vicious of all Druids. Can Cato and Macro rescue them before they are sacrificed to the pagan gods?
And they get help from an unlikely source. The future war queen, a teenaged Boudica.
(...)
A fantastic read.......2005-04-11
Probably the most exciting adventure for Macro and Cato so far in the series (admittedly that's three books - but if Scarrow can keep improving then fans of historical novels are in for a rare treat).
After the Roman governor of Britain loses his family to some wild druids Macro and Cato are called in to search for them and if possible rescue them. A tall task to ask of anyone, but as ever the lads are game and get stuck into the enemy as only they know how. But this time they have the help of one Prasutagus and his fiery bride to be Boudica.
The adventureis gripping and literally page turning, and hte characrters play off each other like seasoned Quentin Tarantino pros. The dialogueis crisp and credible, and the languageis exactly what you would expect from soldiers. Thisis no prissy Cornwell novel, these guys are three-dimensional with all the failings of real people. That's why the seriesis so successful; despite the fact that we know Macro and Cato are going to get out of whatever hot water they are in, their escapeis never signposted and the readeris kept on tenterhooks right up until whatever qualified victory they achieve at the end.
Frankly, a military adventure series doesn't get any better than this and when you compare it to the swathe of poor quality fiction set in Rome that finds its way into bookshops, Scarrow's books shine out like a jewel in a middle of the midden (to coin a phrase).
Average customer rating:
- Graphic SF Reader
- Catwoman gets the Loeb/Sale treatment
- Loeb and Sale Strike Again...
- Nothing too special from Loeb and Sale
- An Average Cat
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Catwoman: When in Rome (Batman)
Jeph Loeb
Manufacturer: DC Comics
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Similar Items:
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Batman: Dark Victory
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Batman: Haunted Knight
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Batman: The Long Halloween
ASIN: 1401204325 |
Book Description
The acclaimed, Eisner award-winning team of writer Jeph Loeband artist Tim Sale return to Gotham City, home of Catwoman, for a talethat takes the Feline Fatale into a dangerous new realm.WHEN IN ROME chronicles Catwoman's mysterious trip to Italy and herdealings with the deadly Falcone crime family.It's a colorful tale ofGotham's sexiest cat burglar at her most intriguing.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Following The Long Halloween Catwoman sojourns to Italy, and becomes entangled with the Falcone crime family.
She tries a jewel heist from the Vatican, and ends up getting into quite a bit of trouble, from many sides, and the whole Gotham City thing isn't reall that far away after all.
Catwoman gets the Loeb/Sale treatment.......2007-09-01
So being the Batman fan that I am as well as a Loeb/Sale fan, I devoured everything I could of theirs. Knowing that this story of Catwoman, trying to discover her roots in Italy, took place in between The Long Halloween and Dark Victory just made it that much more enticing. Unfortunately I can't say that the magic they were able to pull off with Batman and other heroes was put to good use with Catwoman's solo story.
Not to say that their talents were put to complete waste. The artwork was terrific as always. I just couldn't get into it the same way I got into their work previously. Maybe it's because I'm not as big a fan of Catwoman as I should be to enjoy this. There are plenty of characters from the Bat universe thrown in there for good measure (Batman never makes an official appearance, just in Selina's dreamlike hallucinations), but still that wasn't enough to satisfy.
The Riddler plays a big supporting role in this and while he is one of my favorite Bat villains, the fact that he was there couldn't elevate it for me. I actually much prefer the way other writers handle Riddler better. I would love it if these guys would collaborate on another Batman project at some point in the future because Catwoman just wasn't a good enough substitute. No offense to Catwoman or her fans intended! I still love these guys' work and if they were to write another Catwoman tale set in Gotham I would be all over it.
Loeb and Sale Strike Again..........2007-08-07
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, the masterminds behind Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Dark Victory are at it again, and this time they've brought Selina "Catwoman" Kyle and Edward "The Riddler" Nigma along for the ride. Catwoman: When in Rome finds the pair on a mission of Catwoman's own devising in the eternal city, fraught with beautiful locales and all manner of peril; and to top it off, Selina is suffering from some very disconcerting nightmares. What does it all mean? Is someone following her? Will she find what she's looking for in Roma's well trod thoroughfares? Intrigued? Then pick this one up.
Chronologically, this book seems to fall in between Long Halloween and Dark Victory, but for those looking for a good read, you don't have to be familiar with those other works to enjoy this gem. Jeph Loeb ranks among the likes of Kurt Busiek as a writer who "gets" the comic genre and can write characters with equal amounts of pathos, humor and joie de vivre. He is perfectly paired with Sale, whose artwork walks the razor's edge between charicature and straight illustration and mirrors Loeb's own literary style. Indeed, Sale's artwork, which - as in Long Halloween and Dark Victory - has a sort of 1950s-1960s feel to it (see, for instance, Selina's jaunt through the twilit streets of Rome on a Vespa scooter) was, for me, one of the chief attractions of this volume. If you're looking for a fun read, with great dialogue, a chuckle or two, and fantastic artwork, you would do well to pick up Catwoman: When in Rome
Nothing too special from Loeb and Sale.......2007-04-24
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have always been a winning team. With Marvel, they crafted Daredevil: Yellow and Spider-Man: Blue, and with DC they crafted the even better Superman For All Seasons, and three classic Batman stories; Haunted Knight, Dark Victory, and the Long Halloween. Needless to say, I expected better than what they put together with Catwoman: When in Rome, which while not bad at all, isn't anything special and is disappointing for those expecting the same kind of magic they've come up with before. The story picks up shortly after the events of Long Halloween with Selina "Catwoman" Kyle in Italy searching for the missing key to her past. Along with her is the Riddler, who makes for some great comic relief that is undoubtedly one of the best aspects of this TPB. Other than that though, there are inconsistencies throughout the overall story, and the noir-ish feel that Loeb typically gives the Batman universe doesn't work as well here as before. All that being said, Tim Sale's artwork is still nice to look at, and his renditions of Catwoman are plenty sexy. All in all, When in Rome isn't bad one bit and on it's own is a solid Catwoman story, but Loeb and Sale have definitely done better together.
An Average Cat.......2006-07-23
Story and art are both firmly average. It is hard to believe this is the team that created the very good Batman: Dark Victory and other heralded Batworks.
It is hard to believe Sale is the artist, Catwoman in no way resembles the sleek, sexy version portrayed in The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. Though cheesecake and semi-nudes are thrown in galore she just doesn't look the sophisticated seductress she's portrayed as in other Loeb/Sale works.
Plotwise it is a mishmash, Cheetah showing up, Mr. Freeze's gun, all allegedly brought over to Italy by The Riddler. They seem to serve merely to cause fight scenes, not develop any plot. Catwoman actually spends very little time pursuing the agenda that brought her to Italy, and there is no real resolution to it. Which normally I wouldn't mind, but after the meandering set pieces instead of a tightly woven plot I would have liked some payoff. The brevity of the work is also disappointing after having experienced the much longer works they have created.
Well nobody hits a home-run every time at bat. Not even Loeb and Sale.
Book Description
When in Rome, do as Audrey Hepburn would do. Failing that, run off with your ex-boyfriend, carry suspicious packages through customs, and lie to the person who loves you. . . .
Georgie Beauchamp is totally happy and in love with her wonderful, dependable boyfriend, David. So why does she always daydream about running into her gorgeous ex-boyfriend Mike? It can’t mean she’s still in love with him—especially since the cad dumped her so horribly. As luck would have it, when Georgie’s daydream actually comes true, she is dressed in unglamorous sweats and carrying a curtain rod down the street, while Mike is driving an expensive sports car and looking better than Brad Pitt at the Oscars. She longs to have the glamorous life Mike can offer—and starts to think that he might want her back in his arms.
But when he invites her for a weekend in Rome, Georgie is torn. David has always said he’d take her there for the romantic getaway of a lifetime, but his work keeps him totally tied up. So she must choose: David, all comfort and reliability, or Mike, all flirtation and butterfly-stomachs. The decision isn’t too hard to make, and faster than she can say Vespa, she’s off to Rome with Mike, full of plans to frolic on the Spanish Steps and sip wine in intimate trattorias. But when David shows up unexpectedly, this roman holiday gets a hell of a lot more complicated. . . .
Download Description
When in Rome, do as Audrey Hepburn would do. Failing that, run off with your ex-boyfriend, carry suspicious packages through customs, and lie to the person who loves you....
Georgie Beauchamp is totally happy and in love with her wonderful, dependable boyfriend, David. So why does she always daydream about running into her gorgeous ex-boyfriend Mike? It can't mean she's still in love with him—especially since the cad dumped her so horribly. As luck would have it, when Georgie's daydream actually comes true, she is dressed in unglamorous sweats and carrying a curtain rod down the street, while Mike is driving an expensive sports car and looking better than Brad Pitt at the Oscars. She longs to have the glamorous life Mike can offer—and starts to think that he might want her back in his arms.
But when he invites her for a weekend in Rome, Georgie is torn. David has always said he'd take her there for the romantic getaway of a lifetime, but his work keeps him totally tied up. So she must choose: David, all comfort and reliability, or Mike, all flirtation and butterfly-stomachs. The decision isn't too hard to make, and faster than she can say Vespa, she's off to Rome with Mike, full of plans to frolic on the Spanish Steps and sip wine in intimate trattorias. But when David shows up unexpectedly, this roman holiday gets a hell of a lot more complicated.
"Gemma Townley's story is infectious, charming and hysterical. She's an author after my own heart."
SHERRIE KRANTZ, AUTHOR OF
VIVIAN LIVES
"As sweet and frothy as a cappuccino, this engaging Roman Holiday-inspired romp reveals the importance of a 'victory haircut' and the transformative powers of shopping at Gucci!"
MELISSA DE LA CRUZ, AUTHOR OF CAT'S MEOW AND HOW TO BECOME FAMOUS IN TWO WEEKS OR LESS
"A refreshing, funny, pacy book, it made me want to rush off to Rome and be Audrey Hepburn. I loved it!"
SOPHIE KINSELLA, AUTHOR OF
CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC
Customer Reviews:
2 1/2 stars.......2007-09-11
When in Rome is a fast-paced fluff of a read. But it's pretty blah reading. The plot is annoyingly predictable but the story is at times cute, that I still read it through to the end. Georgie has a boring job, is dating a seemingly boring accountant, and her exciting ex-boyfriend is trying to get back into the picture. David, her boyfriend, is handsome, sweet and sensitive but he's not as exciting as Mike, her ex. Mike is the dangerous, sexy/handsome, bad boy type. Georgie's having a hard time resisting his charms despite David's warnings (maybe because of those warnings she considers the pursuit) and even though, subconsciously she has an inkling that this can only mean trouble. And trouble it does. Mike is involved in some sketchy activities that easily make the reader realize that he's no good. Georgie has a harder time connecting the obvious signs for disaster. Fans of Roman Holiday will enjoy the reminiscing and parallels but otherwise it's pretty blah reading. There were no real surprises, you pretty much can predict the whole story by the second or third chapter.
Predictable, yet fun... (3 1/2 stars).......2007-01-16
Georgie spends a lot of time watching Friends reruns and spending evenings in with her sweet, yet predictable boyfriend, David. She has a job as a "researcher," yet spends most of her time emailing people or surfing the net. She feels that her life needs a jumpstart, and just about that time, her old boyfriend Mike comes back into the picture.
Though Mike treated her badly, spent her money, and left her for another woman, he's back, with his tail between his legs. He makes her feel beautiful and sexy, he's exciting, and he seems to be the opposite of her current boyfriend. If she goes to Rome with him (which David has always promised to do, but hasn't, cause he works too hard) David will have no idea, he will be in Switzerland that weekend. So, she goes.
Surprisingly, she runs into David in Rome, coupled with a beautiful woman and now things are starting to unravel. Mike is acting strangely, David is blowing her off, and her close friend Candy has a secret that Georgie is dying to know. Can Georgie fix the mess or is she just making it worse?
This book received as many stars as it did because there was a lot of drama and exciting scenes. The descriptions of Rome made me want to run away and I loved all of the tangled webs. Unfortunately, I figured out Candy's secret when the main character didn't, and I knew that David and Mike weren't how they were described in the beginning of the book. Basically, the main character played dumb a bit too many times, but I enjoyed the story, and finished it in a couple of days.
Surprisingly Disappointing.......2006-07-09
I love Rome and like this genre, so I was prepared to be enchanted by When In Rome... Instead I was disappointed by the main character, whose immaturity and lack of perspective ruined the book for me. The ex-boyfriend's character was extremely one-dimensional, making it impossible to understand why the heroine would want him back. Yet the current boyfriend's character is portrayed as near perfect, making the heroine's actions baffling to the reader. If the characters had been multi-faceted, the ensuing course of events might have been involving. Instead this attempted mad-cap adventure stubles before it gets of the ground.
Another Story About a Stupid Woman.......2006-03-06
Why do some writers think they can base their novels on a brainless woman? Their target audience (women, I assume) is supposed to find such main characters inspiring?
A borring read........2005-10-18
The reading was not hard but drudgerous. A good chick-flick that is just so borring. This book is written in the first person.
Book Description
Once people from diverse cultures start to work together, unexpected and puzzling behavior patterns can crop up. Suddenly things can go wrong an no one knows why! Now Gwyneth Olofsson takes on these work-related intercultural issues and offers practical advice in her new book, When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh. After sixteen years of cultural training and business consulting, Olofsson has collected the cultural questions her students and business trainees have asked her and compiled them in brief, to-the-point letters and answers. Largely drawn from her column in Volvo's magazine, Global, she shares answers to burning questions on topics best related to the 33 countries with the largest gross domestic product-those where businesspeople are most likely to be. Olofsson uses each specific cultural question as a springboard to explore cultural commonalities and differences. She also provides "Global Warnings" for topics that are particularly sensitive in certain cultures. And, she's made the book easy to navigate with a country-specific index at the front of the book. Whether searching for the answer to a specific cultural question (such as making a good impression) or understanding a specific area of the world (such as Belgium or Indonesia), the reader can locate the information quickly through this index.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2005-10-18
Book arrived in excellent condition and quickly. The book is very informative and in a nice conversational, easy to grasp format.
Explores the fascinating variety of cultural differences .......2005-01-03
Written by the owner of an international training and consulting company, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh: Cultural Q & As For Successful Business Behavior Around The World is a comprehensive guide especially for international businesspeople, covering common cultural misunderstandings and gaffes that can plague one in nations ranging from Australia to Venezuela. From general information on how to make small talk safely and avoid common communication problems, to body language recommendations and warnings against inappropriate gestures in different nations (for example, a raised thumb is considered offensive in Australia and the Middle East), to countless case studies of problems and communication issues brought about by different cultural norms and expectations, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh is not only a "must-have" resource for globetrotters but also an engrossing to lay readers curious about the sharp differences in how folks from different nations relate. Extremely accessible and down-to-earth, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh explores the fascinating variety of cultural differences from an emphatically practical perspective.
Funny and wise!.......2004-11-17
This book is a complete winner! All the the other intercultural books I`ve read have been BORING. This is a book for everybody working internationally...and it`s wise and amusing
When in Rome, or Rio, or Riyadh..........2004-11-04
There were places in this book where I laughed out loud, usually at the real-life examples of "culture clashes." The letters also made me think about how my own behavior at work could be misunderstood by foreigners. I learned a lot!
When in Rome..........2004-10-25
I just started working in a large multi-national and have found this book invaluable in its advice about how to deal with people from other cultures. I particularly liked the Q&A format of much of the book when people wrote to Gwyneth Olofsson with questions about how to deal with tricky cross-cultural situations - the sort that can lead to "culture clash" if you're not careful. A big plus is that it's funny too!
Amazon.com
Robert Hutchinson is on a mission: to explore the living center of the Roman Catholic Church. "Twenty years after my first visit to Rome I set out to rediscover the Vatican. I wondered how it would all seem, to a smart-aleck American writer and confused Catholic, to really poke around the place, talk to the people who actually run it." When in Rome is not a book of theology or politics, it's a compilation of the nitty-gritty, day-to-day inside stories of what really makes the Eternal City tick. "I wanted to know how much money a cardinal made, what those silly capelike outfits were called, where the Swiss Guards went drinking on their days off, and so on," explains Hutchinson.
This book is a collection of the best of his discoveries. Always with a sense of humor and a bottomless curiosity (sometimes irreverent, but never disrespectful), Hutchinson reveals how archaeologists found, then lost, the bones of St. Peter; he seeks erotic literature in the Vatican library to help him brush up on his Italian (when studying foreign languages he finds this genre increases his motivation to look up new words in the dictionary); he learns that "relics" in Rome range from right arms to foreskins; and devotes an entire chapter to the sex lives of the popes.
If Rome is on your itinerary, When in Rome is an excellent take-along read that will help make the Vatican City come to life. --Kathryn True
Book Description
Lighthearted and altogether fascinating, When in Rome is a delightful backstairs tour of one of the world's most mysterious and eccentric cities. With his wife and three young sons, Robert Hutchinson moved to Rome shortly before his thirty-ninth birthday, intending to explore the Vatican in depth. He sought to capture "the personality of the place: the smells and the traffic, the rich delicacies of Roman food, the perils of the Italian language, the way Italian monsignori push their way to the front of the line, just like their lay countrymen." When in Rome is the extraordinary journal of his Roman sojourn.
With playful good humor, Hutchinson introduces the varied and colorful individuals who live and work in the Vatican. In the process, he explores the mysterious orders of medieval knights, some dating back to the First Crusade, which still play a vital role in the Vatican; explains how bumbling Vatican archaeologists found, and then lost, the bones of St. Peter; probes the sex lives of the popes, from the "pornocracy" of Sergius III to the incestuous orgies of Rodrigo Borgia; experiences high fashion in the Holy See, including a visit to the pope's personal tailor; encounters the weird relics of Catholicism, such as the mummified body of St. Pius X and a museum made entirely out of human bones; recounts the true story behind the True Cross, now kept in a run-down church near the Colosseum; and much, much more.
Humorous, irreverent, but ultimately respectful, When in Rome does for the Vatican what A Year in Provence did for the French countryside, in an unforgettable and unprecedented eyewitness account of one of the most fascinating places on Earth.
Customer Reviews:
A lot of fun!.......2007-02-23
There are many light 'travel' books intended to give a personal account of some aspect of the author's experience in a foreign country or city. This book fits into that category with a particular emphasis on the Vatican. Anyone planning a trip to Rome should consider some of the 'traveler' books along with the many excellent travel guides that are available to help you understand the city. The "traveler' books are generally much more interesting to read.
"When in Rome" is a lot of fun. Robert Hutchinson provides great insight into the Vatican and how it works (or at times doesn't!) I am reminded of the question once asked of Pope John XXIII: "How many people actually work in the Vatican?" Answer: "Not Many!"
I have been to Rome many times, but this book was still informative for me and is highly recommended for those planning a first trip to Rome, and even for the experienced traveler.
Served Its Purpose.......2003-10-25
Hutchinson served his purpose. He provided just enough detail about the stories he picked to keep the lay reader interested, and varied his stories widely enough to provide a wide angle portrait of the Vatican. A humorous and thoughtful look at the place and the institution which has, for better or worse, been the very center of Catholicism and the Catholic conciousness for 2,000 years.
Fun and Factual.......2002-10-18
Upon the advise of a good tour guide, I purchased this book after visiting and utterly enjoying the Eternal City. Please note that this is certainly not the ultimate guide to the Vatican or to understanding Catholicism. It is merely a collection of the amusing anecdotes of a journalist, who like other journalists has the opportunity to live in another part of the world and then comment about his impressions of adapting or accepting another culture.
In this instance, Hutchinson moves to Rome with the sole purpose of writing a "what I did on my summer vacation" book on the Vatican. He and his wife and three children, all practising Catholics already feel that affinity to Rome, the Pope and the Vatican that all Catholics innately experience. Here, Hutchinson explores with pure delight his connection with an institution that has lasted through 2000 years of tumultuous change and yet like the rock it was built upon, invariably stays the same.
Hutchinson's Roman adventures are sprinkled liberally with his slightly irreverant humor and yes, as other reviewers have commented, he does repeat himself. But instead of looking cynically upon these faux pas, think of Hutchinson as the prodigal son (or any other excited tourist with a film projector filled with slides) returning from the unknown and merely so thrilled by what he has seen and experienced, can barely contain himself. Enjoy his exuberance, visit Rome and share in it.
Although most entertaining for me were Hutchinson's stories about St. Peter's bones, the Borgia popes, and the holy relics, I found the entire book one refreshing breeze of a read that brought back for me the sound of the Vespas in a city that juxtaposes the old with the new in a very stylish and sophisticated way. Recommended reading for AFTER that trip to Rome---to relish all those "Roman" sensations all over again.
Vatican Eye-Opener.......2002-09-02
In her New York Times Book Review, Sandra Mardenfeld tells us that When in Rome is "...an interesting but rarely startling account." She either didn't read it or is on the Curia payroll.
A little bit of Rome each day...........2002-07-30
I read this book on the bus to and from work each day and it really brought me back to the time I lived in Rome. I really enjoyed the sarcastic views and "insider" information about the Vatican. I recommend this book to any Italophile!
Book Description
Bakke paints a fascinating picture of children's first real emergence as people against a backdrop of the ancient world.
Using theological and social history research, Bakke compares Greco-Roman and Christian attitudes toward abortion and child prostitution, pedagogy and moral upbringing, and the involvement of children in liturgy and church life. He also assesses Christian attitudes toward children in the church's developing doctrinal commitments.
Today, growing numbers of children are impoverished, exploited, abandoned, orphaned, or killed. Bakke's insightful work begins to untangle the roots of their complex plight.
Customer Reviews:
ASTONISHING ANSWERS TO HOW THE ANCIENTS VIEWED CHILDREN.......2006-09-29
Anyone interested in ancient history will find this book a treasure, densely packed with information.
Bakke's "When Children Became People" points our that the ancients viewed children from a much different perspective than we do. There was "a negative assessment of children and childhood found in antiquity" (p 19) to the point that "Pliny...does not attmpt to conceal his contempt and lack of esteem for this phase in human life" (p 19). Abortion and exposure of infants was common.
Violence against children was tolerated, expecially for the vast numbers of slave children. And slave children were frequently abused sexually as well. Indeed, as "The Economics of Prostitution in Rome" pointed out, many Romans with young slaves hired them out to brothels. Boys were kept at the brothels until their beards sprouted. Girls until their looks faded.
So, when did the current western prespective on children begin? Bakke argues, and argues very persuasively, than it began with Christianity.
Christians thought all people had souls. This had enormous impact upon the way children were treated. The Didache (written between 50-120 AD)says, "Do not murder a child by abortion, nor kill it at birth". Bakke notes how "the author speaks of the fetus as a 'child'" at a time when the other ancients were referring to children as that 'thing'.
It was a revolution, with consequences to our day. Christians viewed children as complete and valuable human beings from the time of their conception. In the wake of Christianity was "a great reduction in the number of children (especially boys) who were involved in sexual acts with adult men (p 284). Because Christians felt that the way their brought up their child could affect nothing less than that child's eternal salvation Christians had a "greater involvement in upbringing than was generally the case in pagan families" (p 285).
Consider this book a must read.
Excellent resources for child theological academians........2006-09-01
Be prepared for this text to kick your butt. It won't kick your butt theologically but instead intellectually. This is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to critically study Christian theologies from the first few centuries. O.M. Bakke painstakingly researched the writings of early theologians and historians to determine how the Greco-Roman world vs. the Christian world understood children for the first 400 years of the church.
I highly recommend this text if someone is intersted in deeply exploring how the church saw children in this time period. The reading is slow and intellectual allowing the reader to absorb all of the valuable material found in this text.
This would make an excellent text book for any professors of Christian history and/or theology of childhood classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Hopefully Bakke has opened the floodgates on research into theology of childhood that will continue to grow in its academic responses.
Customer Reviews:
RoMe LiVeS FoReVeR.......2004-03-05
This is one great book in my opinion. You might think that fact books are filled with just boring facts, and have no taste in them. This will prove you wrong. It tells everything about Rome, there struggles, their riches, defeats, and especially my favorite, culture. It's like a whole different world when you read this, because you get the true feeling of how it was in Rome. The power, you can almost feel it as if you were the leader at the time. The slaves, the men dying, the women crying, the children confused. I've researched quiet a bit about Rome, and the information listed, is as accurate as it gets. It tells how Rome was built, how it ran, and how it was taken down. It explains how the leaders conquered the land, dominated the world basically. This book contains different rituals, games, military facts, art, and pottery. It gives a brief over view of how each came to be in existence. Art was one of there best sides. Very beautiful pottery was created at the time, many unique and exquisite designs. In the military, everyone took pride in what they did. A lot of people had many different tasks, which means it took many people to run the city. I don't want to say too much, although I might have already. When you get some time, read this book, and you will agree with me when I say, "Rome was one successful empire.
ANOTHER GREAT BOOK IN THIS SERIES.......2002-03-20
This 166-page book is a wonderful addition to the What Life Was Like series. Every page is filled with beautiful photos of maps, statuary, wall paintings, and everyday objects - children's toys, soldiers gear, bath implements, coins, rings, etc. It is written for the casual reader with vivid, easy to read text. Some of the subjects briefly touched upon: the lives/reigns of Julius Caesar, Augustus and Hadrian; the lives and daily routines of everyday people; soldiers and war; gladiators and games; artisans and tradespeople, etc. Also recommended: WLWL On the Banks of the Nile (Egypt 3050-30BC).
Very readable - and surprisingly good view of Life in Rome.......1999-01-23
I've been reading a lot of Roman history lately and got this book as a gift. It is very readable, and very entertaining. One of the things a most histories miss are the lives of the regular people. We all know about the Ceasars, but how did the regular people live? What was it really like? This book, with illustrations and text, tries to tell the reader - and succeeds.
Book Description
Murder takes a Roman holiday
On an exclusive guided tour of Rome's ancient ruins, a motley crew of tourists gets more than the price of admission. For amidst the serpentine passages of an underground crypt, the shady tour guide disappears, a mysterious murder occurs, and Inspector Roderick Alleyn-undercover on an international drug bust-must focus his keen eye on more than just Rome's breathtaking sights...
Customer Reviews:
This is one Marsh that can be skipped.......2007-03-31
The deficiencies here are glaring. Two of the victims are villains and the third hisses a few words, spits at one of the villains, and is gone, never to reappear except as a dead body. We don't miss any of them and don't really care who killed them. The central characters are never remotely in danger of being suspected. The most interesting feature of the story is a fictional twelth-century basilica built atop a third-century church, which had itself been built atop a house dating from Mithraic times. In all, a book without tension, suspense, or interest (except in the basilica).
Entertaining enough, but not the top of her game. .......2007-01-05
This late (1970) Marsh book is worthwhile reading for Marsh fans. Unfortunately, it does not compare well to some of the more classic Alleyn books from earlier in her career. Marsh was at her best writing about earlier days. Her misunderstandings and often (unintentionally) comic view of youth culture during the late 1960s/early 1970s is one of the unfortunate hallmarks of this period in her writing.
In When in Rome, Alleyn registers for a tour incognito to try to crack a drug and blackmailing ring run by a thoroughly unpleasant fellow. When the fellow in question turns up dead, he and his fellow tourists have a great deal of thinking to do about guilt and innocence.
Truthfully, this is probably a three star book. I gave it four stars because of the extra Ngaio Marsh spark which can make even a tedious book worth the time to read. Recommended, as I said, for Marsh fans. Readers new to her work should choose one of the novels from the 1930s through 1950 as a first experience.
Best Left To Hardcore Marsh Fans.......2005-03-09
WHEN IN ROME presents us with a tantalizing tale of Mr. Sebastian Mailer, an up-scale tour guide whose idea of showing his guests the town ranges from artistic landmarks to drug laden dens of iniquity. Unfortunately, Mailer also laces his mixture with a spot of blackmail, so it is no great surprise to Chief Inspector Alleyn, on duty in Rome, when a body turns up where no body should be.
Among the great authors of 20th Century mystery fiction, Ngaio Marsh was particularly noted for her ability to create unique characters and place them in memorable settings--and WHEN IN ROME offers her the opportunity to do precisely that. But in this instance Marsh overplays her hand. The novel is tainted by repeated condensending British jibes at Italy, some faintly hilarious ideas about drug use, and what can only be described as indirect but nonetheless obvious sneering fits of homophobia.
In the end, this is novel that established Marsh fans will want to read--but it is also a novel that not even established Marsh fans will consider in the same league with such brilliant works as BLACK AS HE'S PAINTED, DEAD WATER, or OVERTURE TO DEATH, to name but a few. Readable, even amusing, but ultimately dismissable.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
It is time to compare Christie to Marsh.......2001-11-14
Having read all of Agatha Christies novels I never thought that I would find an author comparable to her. Yet, after reading most of the Ngaio Marsh books I believe it is time to start comparing Agatha Christie to Ngaio Marsh. A great example of this can be found in When in Rome. In this book, Chief Superintendent Roderick Alleyn gets himself involved in a guided tour in an old church site in Rome. When the rather disrepeptable tour guide vanishes and a murder in unearthed in the underground portion of the old church, Alleyn finds himself in the thick of it. Together with the Italian Police, Alleyn trys to sort out the possible suspects. Marsh is at her very best as she takes the reader on a magical mystery tour of Rome. As always, her character descriptions are flawless and the plot moves along in rapid fashion. This book is on a par with Grave Mistake and many of her others. A great read and a superb mystery. Ngaio Marsh is can well be considered one of the best Brittish authors of the century.
As addictive as any drug.......2000-06-13
From the first Ngaio Marsh book I read (_Death in a White Tie_)I was hooked. Now, reading my fourth Marsh novel, _When in Rome_, I can say that I like her even better than Agatha Christie. _When in Rome_ is about a group of tourists (incl. the famous Inspector Alleyn) whose guide suddenly disappears. Only Inspector Alleyn, who joined the tour because he suspects that the guide is a key member of a drug ring, is worried about his disappearance; most of the tour group couldn't care less. In fact, a few of them couldn't be happier that the seedy Mr. Mailer has conveniently vanished.
Average customer rating:
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When in Rome: The Humorists' Guide to Italy (Humorists' Guides)
Manufacturer: Distributed by Independent Publishers Group
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