I have been and remain a huge fan of Roman history and I absolutely love visiting the Eternal City. Recently, I have been taking more narrow looks into specific aspects of Roman history, rather than broad subjects like the fall of the Republic. Taking a narrower look means focusing in on themed time periods, certain wars, or individual emperors. In January of this year, I read Nero: Matricide, Music, and Murder in Imperial Rome by Anthony Everitt and Roddy Ashworth. Published in 2022, this is a nuanced, modern biography of the Roman emperor Nero that aims to rehabilitate his reputation from that of one of history’s most infamous rulers. Rather than repeating ancient scandal-driven narratives, Everitt and Ashworth present a more complex portrait that blends political history, cultural analysis, and psychological insight. Really, they make the case that Nero wasn't all that bad. Buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4xi3qBX ...
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