Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World

JENNIFER SZALAI, THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

"An erudite and entertaining new book by the redoubtable classics scholar and feminist Mary Beard ... Beard, a consummate storyteller, finds 'ancient gossip' understandably hard to resist. Such stories also free her up to pursue her subject thematically instead chronologically, pointing not just to differences among the emperors but also similarities ... As a writer, Beard is so appealing and approachable that even the recalcitrant reader who previously gave not a single thought to the Roman Empire will warm to her subject."