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8797999's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, a sequel to Rubicon - which followed Caesar and Augustus and the end of the Roman Republic. This book follows on with the lives of the Caesars from Augustus to Nero, although it does touch on the reign of Vespasian.
Fun and interesting throughout, just how history should be taught. There were some funny anecdotes such as the wealthy roman who was deemed depraved for having mirrors on his walls which enlarged certain appendages when used for getting his rocks off.
All in all a great book and superb author too, makes the subject accessible and hopefully encourages further delving into the wonderful history that is Roman (or ancient in general). I look forward to reading more by Tom Holland (not Spiderman) and luckily enough I have several of his books waiting on my bookshelf.
Fun and interesting throughout, just how history should be taught. There were some funny anecdotes such as the wealthy roman who was deemed depraved for having mirrors on his walls which enlarged certain appendages when used for getting his rocks off.
All in all a great book and superb author too, makes the subject accessible and hopefully encourages further delving into the wonderful history that is Roman (or ancient in general). I look forward to reading more by Tom Holland (not Spiderman) and luckily enough I have several of his books waiting on my bookshelf.
evgeorge's review
This book reads like a history text and not a work of nonfiction storytelling that I expect from a writer such as Tom Holland. There is nothing new here for me.
xfajardo's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Tom Holland nos sumerge en la apasionante crónica del período dinástico de la familia Julio-Claudia en este libro. A través de una narrativa impecable, nos invita a vivir el día a día de la cultura romana, utilizando como eje central a los protagonistas políticos de una época tan compulsiva como fascinante.
Holland logra magistralmente transportar al lector a la antigua Roma, permitiéndonos ser testigos de las intrigas, ambiciones y excesos que caracterizaron a esta época. De este modo, nos encontramos con personajes tan complejos como Augusto, Tiberio, Calígula, Claudio y Nerón, quienes, con sus luces y sombras, dan vida a una historia que se asemeja más a una novela de ficción que a la realidad histórica.
Lo que más destaca de esta obra es la capacidad de Holland para combinar el rigor histórico con un estilo narrativo ágil y ameno. El autor nos presenta una gran cantidad de información de una forma accesible y atractiva, sin sacrificar la profundidad del análisis.