Letters of Pliny

Pliny the Younger, a lawyer, scholar, and natural philosopher, offers a unique glimpse into Roman life from 97 to 112 AD in these letters to his friends and family. They chronicle the life and hobbies of a senator and prominent imperial official, whose associates included the historians Tacitus and Suetonius. They are equal parts autobiography and social history. The topics covered in Pliny's letters range widely, from the political climate of the time to family issues, the educational system, the practises of Roman religion, the treatment of slaves, and natural phenomena. He vividly recalls the Vesuvian eruption that killed his uncle as well as the daily activities of a well-to-do Roman in the courts and at leisure, whether in the city or taking part in rural sports.