Dynasty

[stoutfellow]

I just finished reading Tom Holland's Dynasty, a history of the Julio-Claudian emperors of Rome (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero). I'd previously read his Persian Fire, about the Greco-Persian wars, and Rubicon, about the last years of the Roman Republic. Like the other two, it was interesting, but I didn't find it quite as riveting. The main problem, for me, was a somewhat sensationalistic tone - e.g., referring to the young Octavian as a terrorist. Still, his discussions of Tiberius (sympathetic, up until his old age, when he became somewhat paranoid), Claudius (viewed as more calculating than other treatments I've read), and Nero (as a consummate politician) were pretty interesting. I will continue to look out for his books.