As soon as they spied a group of people anywhere whose curiosity at least they might pique, they would mingle with them and unblushingly unroll their manuscript-in the forum, under a portico, or among the crowd at the baths. The recitatio had invaded even the crossroads. Examining the contemporary literature, we soon get the impression that everyone was reading something, no matter what, aloud in public all the time, morning and evening, winter and summer.

XREF: Connects to modern open-mic readings, slam poetry, and performance-based literary culture.

Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order a…, loc. 203