Nero Caesar Augustus Emperor of Rome

A new biography of a popularly loathed historical figure, which aims to provide a more positive and balanced assessment of the emperor than many of the previous writings about his life. It coincides with the recent re-opening of Nero's Roman residence, The Golden House, which will generate renewed interest in his life.

Propelled to power by the age of 17 by an ambitious mother, self-indulgent to the point of criminality, inadequate, paranoid and the perpetrator of heinous crimes including matricide and fratricide, and deposed and killed by 31, Nero is one of Rome’s most infamous Emperors. But has history treated him fairly? Or is the popular view of Nero as a capricious and depraved individual a travesty of the truth and a gross injustice to Rome's fifth emperor? This new biography will look at Nero’s life with fresh eyes. While showing the man 'warts and all', it also caste a critical eye on the 'libels' which were perpetrated on him, such as claiming he was a madman, many of which were most probably made upto suit the needs of the Flavians, who had overthrown his dynasty.

1. The Sources of our Picture of Nero 2. The Political and Governmental Context 3. Nero's Early Life and Upbringing 4. Nero's Governmental Style 5. An Emperor for the World? 6. Nero's Personality 7. The Fall of Nero 8. Conclusion: Emperor or Monster?

David Shotter is Professor Emeritus in Roman Imperial History at the University of Lancaster. His many books include Rome and Her Empire (2002), Tiberius Caesar (2nd edition, 2004),and The Fall of the Roman Republic (2nd edition, 2005).