Death in ancient Rome

the long version

"For the Romans, the manner of a person's death was the most telling indication of their true character. Death revealed the true patriot, the genuine philosopher, even, perhaps the great artist - and certainly the faithful Christian. Catharine Edwards draws on the many varied accounts of death in the writings of Roman historians, poets and philosophers, including Cicero, Lucretius, Virgil, Seneca, Petronius, Tacitus, Tertullian and Augustine, to investigate the complex significance of dying in the Roman world."--Jacket.