by Mary Beard
First published 2023
Mary Beard explores the reality behind Roman imperial power across three centuries of rule. Rather than following the familiar chronological parade of mad Caligula, monstrous Nero, and philosopher Marcus Aurelius, she asks fundamental questions about what authority these rulers actually wielded. Beard follows emperors through their daily lives at home, at the races, during travels, and even their journeys to the afterlife. She presents their wives, lovers, rivals, slaves, court entertainers, and soldiers alongside ordinary citizens who handed begging letters to imperial hands. The book challenges popular fantasies about Roman imperial life, questioning whether the palace was truly as violent as legend suggests. Beard delivers a fresh perspective on Roman history that moves beyond traditional narratives to examine the social and political world these rulers inhabited.
Genres: biography, history, historical-fiction, ancient-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-perspective, social-commentary
Setting: Rome
Period: Roman Empire
457 pages · Hardcover · Liveright