An essential reference to Rome and its place in literary history. Few cities can rival the historical importance of Rome, and its literary past is no less inspiring. Rome is often associated with the writers that have visited and been inspired by the Eternal City. Literary travelers to Rome will be sure to visit the Coliseum, the Spanish Steps, the Keats-Shelley Memorial House, the Protestant Cemetery, and many other treasures. Bloom's Literary Guide to Rome provides everything a literature lover needs to know to enjoy the city. Features include: *An introduction by esteemed literary critic Harold Bloom *A detailed literary and cultural history of the city, describing its development from its founding by Romulus and Remus to its function as a setting in many of today's international mystery novels *Color illustrations of literary landmarks, historic and contemporary *A color map providing a general overview of the city *A "Places of Interest" section that lists the city's major literary sights--including museums, bookstores, theaters, and more--along with their locations and hours of operation *A list of books to read and Web sites to consult before the trip. Coverage includes: *Cicero and Ancient Rome *Influences on William Shakespeare *Dante Alighieri and The Divine Comedy *The Italian Renaissance *Englanders and The Grand Tour *The Romantic poets *Luigi Pirandello *and much more.