soundy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
dwcofer's review against another edition
5.0
As I said in my Review of Margaet George’s first book on Nero, I typically do not read historical fiction, but this book was a great example of historical fiction well done. This book picks up the story at the Great Fire in Rome in 64 A.D. As with her first book, this one is also extensively well researched and historically accurate. Margaret George conducted a great deal of research prior to writing this book. Much of her research and sources are detailed in an Afterword. The narrative flowed well, and is easy to read. Like the first book, this one is also long, almost 600 pages, so reading it took a while, but was time well spent.
Like in the first book, the story is told in the first person POV, mostly from Nero’s perspective, with a few chapters told from the point of view of other characters, such as Locusta, a poisoner, and Acte, one of Nero’s lovers.
This book shows a side of Nero not often seen. Nero is often portrayed as the emperor who “fiddled while Rome burned.” But George shows several other perspectives of the great emperor. Nero was a visionary in engineering, architecture, and urban planning. He was exceedingly generous and identified with the common man more than he did with the aristocrats of the day. Nero was blessed with artistic talent and culture. He was a poet, musician, athlete, and chariot racer, who had a passion for the arts and performing on stage.
As with the first book, I cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially for fans of ancient Rome and those who love a great historical fiction novel. Even though I do not normally read historical fiction, this book may make me change my mind about that.
Like in the first book, the story is told in the first person POV, mostly from Nero’s perspective, with a few chapters told from the point of view of other characters, such as Locusta, a poisoner, and Acte, one of Nero’s lovers.
This book shows a side of Nero not often seen. Nero is often portrayed as the emperor who “fiddled while Rome burned.” But George shows several other perspectives of the great emperor. Nero was a visionary in engineering, architecture, and urban planning. He was exceedingly generous and identified with the common man more than he did with the aristocrats of the day. Nero was blessed with artistic talent and culture. He was a poet, musician, athlete, and chariot racer, who had a passion for the arts and performing on stage.
As with the first book, I cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially for fans of ancient Rome and those who love a great historical fiction novel. Even though I do not normally read historical fiction, this book may make me change my mind about that.
larobb01's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
finocchio's review against another edition
4.0
This book was not as exciting as Nero, #1.
I love Margaret George's commentaries at the end of each. (I listened to the audiobooks.)
I love Margaret George's commentaries at the end of each. (I listened to the audiobooks.)
katejeminhizer's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advanced reading copy of this title via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Margaret George once again provides us with a comprehensive yet easy to absorb biography of one of history's great enigmas. George succeeds brilliantly with giving Nero a place in modern historical fiction. Her prose is effective in its ability to manipulate the reader through the emotional turmoil of Nero while also providing intense descriptions of events that overpower the reader's ability to resist. The first half of the book is fast paced and riveting. There is a distinct falling off of the intensity of the story after the mid-way point. This is not due to any fault on George's part but reflects the lack of sources available on the later life of Nero. Overall the book provides wonderful insight on Nero and should not be passed over.
Margaret George once again provides us with a comprehensive yet easy to absorb biography of one of history's great enigmas. George succeeds brilliantly with giving Nero a place in modern historical fiction. Her prose is effective in its ability to manipulate the reader through the emotional turmoil of Nero while also providing intense descriptions of events that overpower the reader's ability to resist. The first half of the book is fast paced and riveting. There is a distinct falling off of the intensity of the story after the mid-way point. This is not due to any fault on George's part but reflects the lack of sources available on the later life of Nero. Overall the book provides wonderful insight on Nero and should not be passed over.
outsmartyourshelf's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed the second book of this duology even more than the first. In this one, Margaret George does a superlative job of humanising one of the most infamous figures in Roman history. It's packed with subtle detail - the first chapters which deal with the burning of Rome include Nero's account of his (albeit fictional) work with the Vigiles, those tasked with guarding Rome, where he encounters a group of men deliberately throwing lit torches into buildings & trying to prevent the flames from being put out. An account of the fire from Tacitus remarks on these groups, with one rumour being that the Emperor himself had ordered the burning of Rome. That version has always seemed rather unlikely to me, even taking into account the stated reason of clearing central space for his Domus Aurea, fire is a hard to control element & there was a real risk of Rome in its entirety being completed gutted.
Again in his marriage to Poppaea Sabina, the rumour of him having kicked her in a temper & causing a fatal miscarriage seems overstated. Nero was the last of the Julio-Claudian line of Emperors & a living heir would have been vital for both his family's grip on power & Rome itself. Stability was something the Empire lacked following Nero's death, with the Year of Four Emperors following, before a period of relative calm under Vespasian & the other Flavian Emperors. All in all, it seems like there had been a concerted campaign to malign aspects of Nero's personality & rule, but that is not to say that he was without fault.
He had people killed, including his mother (although to be fair she was trying to kill him too), his first wife (ditto), & many Christians (scapegoats for the fire). A lover & patron of the arts, Nero unfortunately let his passion for competing overrule wiser counsel - he may have been loved by the people but he was not liked by the Senate. His insistence in entering competitions thought beneath the dignity of the ruler of Rome, & his absences from the seat of power to compete in the Greek games created a power vacuum. Yes the doors of the temple of Janus were able to be shut during his rule, proclaiming peace across the Empire, but that very same Empire was built on war & conquest, & there was real danger from bored legions stationed far from Rome under competent commanders.
It's a lengthy book (almost 600 pages) & events move quite slowly as this is more about Nero the person & what could have led to his downfall. Recommended to readers who enjoy historical fiction full of rich detail.
Again in his marriage to Poppaea Sabina, the rumour of him having kicked her in a temper & causing a fatal miscarriage seems overstated. Nero was the last of the Julio-Claudian line of Emperors & a living heir would have been vital for both his family's grip on power & Rome itself. Stability was something the Empire lacked following Nero's death, with the Year of Four Emperors following, before a period of relative calm under Vespasian & the other Flavian Emperors. All in all, it seems like there had been a concerted campaign to malign aspects of Nero's personality & rule, but that is not to say that he was without fault.
He had people killed, including his mother (although to be fair she was trying to kill him too), his first wife (ditto), & many Christians (scapegoats for the fire). A lover & patron of the arts, Nero unfortunately let his passion for competing overrule wiser counsel - he may have been loved by the people but he was not liked by the Senate. His insistence in entering competitions thought beneath the dignity of the ruler of Rome, & his absences from the seat of power to compete in the Greek games created a power vacuum. Yes the doors of the temple of Janus were able to be shut during his rule, proclaiming peace across the Empire, but that very same Empire was built on war & conquest, & there was real danger from bored legions stationed far from Rome under competent commanders.
It's a lengthy book (almost 600 pages) & events move quite slowly as this is more about Nero the person & what could have led to his downfall. Recommended to readers who enjoy historical fiction full of rich detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Death
Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity
missgab721's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
iwishbeautifulthings's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shannasbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
So I did enjoy this better than The Confessions of Young Nero. But it still doesn't sit well with me that George tries to gloss over the more negative aspects of his reign. While she does bring up good points to Nero's reign - him actually trying to help Rome during the fire (and NOT fiddling) and the artistic era he brought fourth - she really does seem to attempt to apologize for his negative actions by bringing up the positive ones. I did enjoy this one better, as I said, but it does have its flaws.
kbuchanan's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't really bring myself to like this one very much. Perhaps some of this is on me, as this book is apparently a follow-up to an earlier Nero novel that I did not know about. I hardly ever make this mistake, but I picked up the audiobook at the library and it mentioned nothing about the earlier novel. However, what bothered me here was not that I felt I had missed out but more that I felt like the writing was somewhat simplistic while also making the research behind the book very, very conspicuous. I appreciate good research, but I don't need hugely long paragraphs proving to me that "I researched what people were eating in this area at this time. Now let me list all of it." It has been quite some time since I have read a work by Margaret George, but I remember liking earlier efforts more.