Do men really think about the Roman Empire all the time? Give them Joan Smith's Roman history of misogyny

Smith's work unveils a gritty reality of ancient Rome, contrasting starkly with popular representations that romanticize its brutality and misogyny. It challenges readers to confront a history often sanitized in mainstream narratives.

While Hollywood offers a glamorous portrayal of Roman life, it glosses over the oppressive structures that dominated society, particularly the violence against women, a subject Smith passionately addresses.

Read at Independent