History can be merely the dusty past, or it can be a fascinating insight into a different civilization. Dudley writes lucidly and gives a vivid picture of what Roman civilization was really like -- and, more important, why it was as it was, and how it became that way. His ability to make clear the development of a civilization is on a par with Kitto's in "The Greeks".

This is an excellant narrative with many interesting assides and antidotes while not exhausting the well known antics of the early and famous dog Diogenes. It is a more enjoyable read than most Stoic books that I have read despite Cynicism's even more scanty information. It is great for any intelligent reader who wants to know about Cynicism's influence on the later Western philosophies and Christanity. It expounds the great personalities of this thought and does not endlessly appoligize about the lack of extant works by famous Cynics, which is all to often the case with Stoicism. It is one of the few books on this topic but a great one, and an enjoyable way to gain knowledge on early Greek philosopy. A fine surprise for a Southern gentleman of Stoic sympathies.