- Author: Emma Southon
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Published: June 30, 2026
- Pages: 448
- ISBN: 978-1668089552
Some people are going to hate this book. I can hear the complaints already. Emma Southon’s writing is an acquired taste. Here’s a typical quote:
“Historians have read the statements of slave owners as truthful and objective, rather than the self-conscious constructions of those justifying slave ownership. I’m sorry but: Fuck that.”
Yep, this is a very different approach to history. The author is deliberately provocative and writes for people who might not normally be interested in ancient history.
The author is also taking a different approach with her topic. I’ve never seen a book on Roman slavery before. I looked on Amazon and could only find a few old, bone-dry, overly academic books.
That quote above sums up what she wants to do with this book. She thinks that people have glossed over the horrors of Roman slavery. Yes, she says, it really was as bad as slavery in every other era and area of the world. She explains that the Roman economy became absolutely underpinned by slavery. It didn’t start that way, but after victories in Gaul, Carthage, Spain and elsewhere, they rebuilt their economy around free labor.
The author explains that there was a wide variety of slave experiences, from work in agriculture, mines and households to service in the military and the gladiatorial arena. One key limitation is that slaves rarely left much written evidence, so the author has to infer a lot of details from somewhat thin evidence.
Overall, the best way I can explain this book is that it’s like a really good podcast episode. It’s educational and entertaining, but you expect some inaccuracies and a few cringey moments.