A masterful new translation of Suetonius's acclaimed biography of the twelve Caesars brings to life a portrait of the early Roman emperors with stunning detail. The ancient Roman Empire was the ultimate arena, where emperors had no choice but to struggle, to entertain, to impress. To rule as a Caesar meant to stand as actors on the grand stage of the world. No biography invites us into the lives of the Caesars more vividly or intimately than that of Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, written from the heart of Rome and power in 121 AD.

By placing each Caesar within the context of the generations that preceded them and linking personality with politics, Suetonius gave flesh and blood to their stories, which continue to inform the way we understand the drama of power today. Their weaknesses, foreign policy crises, and sexual scandals are revealed; their preferences, quirks, and eccentricities come to light; and we sit at their tables and enter their bedrooms, resulting in a series of biographies mediated through the lives of the Caesars themselves.

The fact that Rome lives more vividly in the imagination of people than any other ancient empire is owed in large part to Suetonius, and now the award-winning author and translator Tom Holland brings us even closer with a new, enchanting translation. Providing a deeper understanding of the personal lives of the Caesars and how these inevitably informed what happened throughout the vast extent of the empire, The Lives of the Caesars is a stunning, impressive experience of an era and a culture that is both familiar and completely foreign to our own.

Pages: 448, Dimensions: 16.3x16.3cm