Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: Narrative Excellence

Tom Holland brings the ancients to life, exposing the ambition and vanity of Pompey, the defiant attitude of Caesar, the greed of Crassus and the egotism of Cicero. Holland knows his material, writes like a novelist and compels his reader to learn more. As an avid reader of ancient history, I spend much of my time reading scholarly discourses which can often seem to focus on trivialities; Holland spends his time expressing the characters' thoughts and desires through an incisive reading of his ancient sources. If you want to introduce someone to the period, this book is perfect. For someone trained in the subject, this proves an enjoyable romp through Rome, written by a contemporary.