This is a very good book and probably the only one on the subject so well researched. Hundreds maybe thousands of books have been written on ancient Roman history, but none have been written specifically about the ancient roadway known as Via Appia; at least I can't find any. Many books reference the roadway and give a short history, but none are as detailed as this. I got this book on an on-line auction site and it was a discard from a library. It is nearly impossible to find anywhere else. I am doing some preliminary research on the Appian Way in preparation for a trip along the ancient roadway and this book has proven invaluable. The author must have spent years puting this together. She travelled all along the Appian Way gathering information and stories from locals. It is well researched and documented. It is filled with many facts and interesting tales of intrigue. Did you know the Appian Way was used for 1000 years? Or that many battles were fought along the way as Rome expanded south? Or that the first ever toll booth was along the Appian Way? Interesting stuff and many stories to tell. The photos (black and white) are excellent. I really enjoyed reading this book. It is part history and part travelogue. If you have an interest in ancient Rome or are interested in visiting any towns south of Rome you would find this book interesting.