A Scandalous History of the Roman Emperors - Softcover

In an "Apology" that starts his book, Blond states, self-effacingly, "There is nothing original in this book." In one sense, his biographies add little to the standard portraits of the Caesars the Roman historian Suetonius limned centuries ago. On the other hand, Blond's accompanying essays on Roman life and times bring together readable, relevant background on the social habits of imperial Romans. Roman legal, military, social, and sexual practices were often unique in the ancient world, and Blond's essays put the emperors' behavior in context. Blond's biographies cover just the first six emperors, from Julius Caesar through Nero. A glossary explains Latin terms in greater detail, noting, for example, that Roman use of the term Africa referred solely to the countries bordering the southern Mediterranean. Further essays describe everyday Roman life. The recent movie The Gladiator has piqued interest in this ancient empire, and this intelligent summary ably addresses novices' curiosity. Mark Knoblauch
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