Orgy Planner Wanted: Odd Jobs and Curious Callings in the Ancient World

[CatWoman]

Two thousand years ago, the denizens of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds performed an amazingly diverse and challenging array of tasks to earn their daily bread. Personal entrail-reader to the emperor; war-elephant troop commander; mopper-up of dead gladiators; armpit-hair plucker; stage actor; orgy planner: these are just a few of the career opportunities that beckoned for our ancient Mediterranean ancestors.

In "Orgy Planner Wanted", author Vicki Leon describes - in uniquely vivid and energetic style - 144 ancient career options, from the glittering to the gory, and from the strangely familiar to the entirely strange and entirely unfamiliar. Each of the book's ten chapters focuses on a particular professional area - from sex to showbiz, from cookery to slavery and from divination to hairdressing - looking in detail at specific jobs in each category.

Sidebar profiles tell the stories of some 30 named jobholders - the likes of Spurrina Vestricius (personal entrail-reader to Julius Caesar), Publius and Lucius Sestius (traders in garum - a pungent fish-based forerunner of Worcestershire sauce), and Paris (a celebrated actor-dancer whose abortive attempts to teach the Emperor Nero to dance would ultimately lead to his demise). "Orgy Planner Wanted" offers a unique perspective on the world as it was 2000 years ago, and looks certain to be one of the most intriguing and unputdownable popular history titles of 2007.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orgy-Planner-Wanted-Curious-Callings/dp/1847240968

[bleedingheart]

1. I think I have to read that book...sounds great...

[cobalt1999]

2. thanks for posting that.

I'll have to add that to my reading list.

[CatWoman]

3. you both are welcome

:hi:

NPR was discussing this book this morning during my drive to work, and I found it fascinating. Just wanted to share. :)

[Parche]

4. Orgy Planning

Hmmm.................:rofl: :rofl: :hi:

OH MEOW

[CatWoman]

9. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

:)

:hi:

[kay1864]

5. Slightly different title if you're looking for it in the U.S.

Working IX to V : orgy planners, funeral clowns, and other prized professions of the ancient world

In case you're searching in your library or bookseller website.

:hi:

[CatWoman]

8. thank you so very much

I know they referenced a title with Roman numerals, but I couldn't remember it :)

:hi:

[kay1864]

10. I did notice you were trying to make us pay in British pounds sterling...

Why do you hate America? :cry:










:P

[CatWoman]

11. that was the only hit I could get via an internet search

and yes, I do hate America :)

[kay1864]

12. Thought so

Damn Britophile. :P

[ReadTomPaine]

6. That CANNOT be an easy job...

Imagine how difficult it is to get the seating arrangement right, for one!

At least the dress code is easy... ;)

[slj0101]

7. It seems the new trend in history is non-traditional topics.

There's only so much politics, religion and military affairs history buffs can read about.

This sounds like an awesome read.

[supernova]

13. Oh fun, I'm gonna look for it!

I love titles like this, what workaday life was like in the past.

[trof]

14. We planned our own orgy. Saved a bundle.

In fact, with the money we saved we were able to hire 3 more courtesans.

[xchrom]

15. that's what i was in a former life!

one time when i was trying to quit smoking -- i under went hypnosis -- and had a deep memory recall.

i was the orgy planner for the emporer gayus gayus -- a minor emporer in the first century.

the arm pit hair plucker was my best friend.

[CatWoman]

16. why is it that I don't doubt you?

:hi;

[lost-in-nj]

17. used to be a time

that I didn't have to plan them...
they would just happen!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

sorry

actually the book sounds wonderful...
will have to look for it


lost