Emperor of Rome

Archival Summary & Scope

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. Mary Beard, the "world's most famous classicist" (Guardian) and author of *SPQR*, offers a groundbreaking exploration of Roman emperors. Spanning nearly three centuries from Julius Caesar (44 BCE) to Alexander Severus (235 CE), *Emperor of Rome* transcends a traditional chronological account. Instead, Beard asks incisive questions about imperial power, the realities of palace life, and the daily existence of rulers, from their political influence to the jokes Augustus told.

Drawing on decades of expertise, Beard skillfully combines the epic with the quotidian, challenging long-held assumptions about Roman brutality and power. She introduces readers to emperors alongside their wives, lovers, rivals, slaves, and the ordinary citizens who shaped their world. With a nuanced portrayal of sex, class, and politics, this "masterly group portrait" (Wall Street Journal) re-examines Roman history, revealing what it truly meant to be Roman at its most powerful, complex, and deadly.

Selected as a Best Book of 2023 by the New Yorker, The Economist, and Smithsonian.
160 images; 16-page color insert