An enjoyable book that I have to say I started skimming through after about 130 pages. It is definitely a good reference and will find a place on my shelf. At times it felt like People Magazine, but that also made these emperors more human. While the veracity of the stories is debatable, it is a contemporary reference that bears consideration.

I enjoyed reading that many of the emperors were multilingual, e.g. Tiberius who read and wrote poetry in Latin and Greek and was well-versed in mythology (70-71, p. 132). Gaius Caesar ("Caligula") quoted Homer to visiting kings: "Let there be one Lord, one King!" (Caligula 22, p. 146). The line referenced is from the Iliad (2:204). I pulled down my Greek & Latin edition of the Iliad and found the line right there. So very cool.

Having just finished Mary Beard's SPQR, I was acquainted with many of the personalities mentioned, which helped immensely. I wouldn't come at this book without having had one or more introductions to the history of the early Roman Empire.

This was such a delight to read. I didn't really expect to love it as much as I did because of narrative style but I was wrong ! From actual historical facts to smut facts of the emperors this book really had it all. It made me feel like I was there, witnessing everything.

After reading and discussing this book in my western civilization course, I discovered that I enjoy reading about prominent leaders in history. Honestly, you can't really write a review on this book. All you can do is speak about the lives of the caesars presented inside this book. Cunning and ruthless, the emperors each approached situations in strategic and monstrous ways. Because this is a translation of what Suetonius wrote, some of the transitions were hard to follow and vague. However, we only have records and writings to indicate some of what happened. In today's world with modern standards and laws, it is hard to believe some of the actions of which the emperors took.

I only read a few sections, seemed informative if biased, extremely lurid but interesting nonetheless.