Pax Romana

Both Goldsworthy's writing and Derek Perkins's reading are workmanlike in the best sense: They get the job done effectively and professionally, without show or excess. Goldsworthy writes of Rome's relations with the outside world, both enemies and colonies, throughout its history, and Perkins delivers that history clearly and succinctly. His talents include a strong, likable voice and British accent, an intelligent understanding of the text, the skill to interpret it with appropriate emphases and modulation, and a fine sense of pacing--all admirable, and all easy to overlook as simply components of how a reading should be. This program delivers a good bit of ancient history easily and enjoyably; listeners reap the benefit of professionals at work. W.M. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine