Nero's personality and crimes have always intrigued historians and writers of fiction. This book offers a fascinating insight into the sensational life and troubled times of the Emperor Nero.

Preface to Second Paperback Edition I Introduction 2 The Making of a Princeps PART I NERO'S PRINCIPATE 3 The New Ruler 4 The Golden Age 5 Partners in Power 6 The Turning Point 7 The Descent into Tyranny 8 The Tyranny of Art I 9 The Artistic Tyrant 10 'What an Artist Dies with Me' PART II POST-MORTEM ON THE FALL OF NERO II Why Did It Happen? I2 The Problem of the Succession 13 The Problem of Finance I4 The Temptation of Philhellenism I 5 The Military Image of the Princeps