This was a unlikely reading choice for me, but the very first chapter "Die on Your Journey: the question of Rosa Bathhurst's tombstone" [See: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63960125/rosa-bathurst ] located in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome, grabbed my interest and I was compelled by the narrative (as did the mention of Henry James, and others) enough that I was carried through the entire book. There is the beautiful quote in Shelly's Preface to Adonais about the Protestant cemetery: "It might make one in love with death, to think that one should be buried in so sweet a place."

The book zips along with fascinating details about the city and its history, naturally following architectural landmarks like the Forum and Coliseum (although didn't my interest sag, partly--was it in the chapters on Lucretius and Horace following the more lively start with Cicero, Marcus Aurelius?).

Thankfully I have a new list of places to visit in Rome based on the comments of Scott Samuelson: The Basilica of San Clemente (and the Mithraeum within); Basilica di Sant'Agostino in Campo Marzio; Sant'ivo alla Sapienza; and most of all the villa of Agostino Chigi (1466-1520) the extraordinary Villa Farnesina; and the Villa Albani. He reminds me I need to see the Ludovisi Throne within the Palazzo Altemps as well and also investigate Richard Dakin's 1855 illustrated botanical--The Flora of the Colosseum--that notes exotic plants that grew there from seeds carried in on animals' fur from foreign lands!

Frankly, I cannot possibly imagine using this as a portable guidebook to Rome (as I much prefer the Blue Guide that Samuelson also recommends), but this is a fine book to read anytime, before or after a visit to the city as there is so much to grasp here that is best absorbed at home and not while being jostled during travel.

I have little knowledge of the philosophies described here, but Samuelson makes discussion of each interesting as they are interspersed with so much history of the city, architecture and art, both classical and Renaissance.

Hooray for all the fine source notes, footnotes and acknowledgments. The recommended reading list is quite compelling. ( )