Nerone

This is not a book for people approaching Roman Imperial history for the first time. For that, it's better to read something like Syme's Roman Revolution or Griffin's Nero: The End of a Dynasty (if Nero is what your heart is set on, and not Augustus). Champlin's Nero is much narrower in scope, attem Leggi tutto

Nerón Claudio César Augusto Germánico (conocido para la eternidad simplemente como Nerón), fue el quinto emperador romano y el último prínceps de la dinastía Julio-Claudia. Su fama (o infamia) ha trascendido las barreras del tiempo y hoy, casi dos milenios después de su reinado, sus excesos, crímene Leggi tutto

E. Champlin se plantea la siguiente pregunta: ¿por qué el personaje de Nerón es tan fascinante? El ensayo es un intento, algo deslavazado, de obtener una respuesta satisfactoria a la pregunta anterior. No sigue un orden que yo haya podido interpretar como lógico a la hora de bucear en la vida, los he Leggi tutto

This is a difficult book to review, because I believe that a certain audience will enjoy it, where others may not. As others have commented, this book is not a biography nor does it have a standard historical progression. Champlin argues neither that Nero was a good person or necessarily a good rule Leggi tutto

A very interesting read: a new perspective on the life and career of emperor Nero. The author is more interested in reconstructing Nero's public image and self-representaion than in solving any mysteries of his life. Instead of taking a side in a long war of anti-Nero historians, who believe the anc Leggi tutto

Retrato magnificente y enfermizo de un "imperator", ansioso por ser artista, y trasformado por la historia como un monstruo matricida, piromaniaco y persecutor de cristianos; este ensayo desvela los entresijos del poder en la Roma imperial con el más infausto de sus representantes. Nerón, el artista Leggi tutto

Rather a disappointing book on Nero. For someone as awesome as Nero, the author is rather boring describing the tyranny of his reign (or lack of doing anything really).

The author says clearly that he does not intend to justify Nero’s bizarre behavior and atrocious conduct but to put it into context. But it often felt like Champlain was Nero’s press secretary and PR agent, framing even the most absurd actions in a most flattering light - for instance, saying that N Leggi tutto

Unlike other disgraced emperors, Nero was given a normal funeral after his death. And within a quarter of a century after Nero killed himself, three "False Neros" arose, claiming to be the emperor. So despite this emperor's infamous deeds, he was apparently loved by some. Why? This book seeks to answ Leggi tutto