In creating The Comic History of Rome, Gilbert Beckett was, in his own words 'prompted by a very serious desire to instruct those who, though willing to acquire information, seek to do so with as much amusement as possible.' Underlying his humorous presentation is an earnest desire to 'expose falsehood, and to bring into merited contempt all that has been injudiciously, ignorantly, or dishonestly held up to general admiration.' Beckett portrays prominent characters and events of Roman history and legend from the founding by Romulus and Remus to the death of the republic in this superbly executed example of the time-honored tradition of political satire.
