Author(s): Stephen Dando-Collins

History

Explore all of the murder, madness and mayhem in Ancient Rome during the reign of the mad emperor, Caligula.

In this book about Rome's most infamous emperor, expert author, Stephen Dando-Collins' chronicles all the palace intrigues and murders that led to Caligula becoming emperor, and details the horrors of his manic reign and the murderous consequences brought about at the hand of his sister Agrippina the Younger, his uncle Claudius and his nephew Nero.

Skillfully researched, Dando-Collins puts the jigsaw pieces together to form an accurate picture of Caligula's life and influences. Dando-Collins' precise and thorough examination of the emperor's life puts Caligula's paranoid reign into perspective, examining the betrayals and deaths he experienced prior to his time in power and the onset of a near-fatal illness believed to have affected his mental-health.

"The short, sordid and violent life of the Roman emperor some have compared to Donald Trump."- Kirkus Review

"Was Caligula really mad, bad and dangerous to know? Discover whether he deserves his infamy - or not - in this engrossing character study of the famous emperor." -Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of The Confessions of a Young Nero and The Splendor Before the Dark

"A compelling page-turner. It reads like a political thriller. Which it is. It reads like a work of investigative journalism. Which it is. It reads like a myth-busting period history. Which it is... It takes narrative history to a virtuosic level, with a timeless story extremely well told." -Ralph Benko, US columnist

"There have been many biographies of Caligula, but none that have such spark and vivacity." -Manda Scott, author of the Boudica and Rome series and A Treachery of Spies, and former president of the Historical Writers Association of the UK

"A marvelous book... A lively, engaging volume that is a true pleasure to read." -Professor Lee Fratantuono, Ohio Wesleyan University, author of Caligula: An Unexpected General

"Caligula: The Mad Emperor of Rome is a compelling page-turner, a timeless story. It reads like a political thriller. Which it is. It reads like a work of investigative journalism. Which it is. It reads like a myth-busting period history. Which it is. The author, clearly familiar with, yet never pedantic about, all the primary sources, dispels many old libels masquerading for centuries as fake news. Meanwhile, he provides us with an abundance of documented stories so lurid as to dwarf the overhyped misdemeanors of today. Long ago I was tipped off to on an open secret: Colleen McCulloch's pulp masterpieces in Masters of Rome were so accurate as to be held in awe as a kind of quasi-history by the 'Secret Fraternity of Latin Teachers.' If you enjoy historical fiction you will love this historical fact of Caligula (the book, not the Emperor!). Caligula may herald the perfection of a new literary genre: "forensic history." It takes narrative history to a virtuosic level with a timeless story extraordinarily well-told." -Ralph Benko, columnist

"A marvelously readable popular biography. It's studded with atmospheric, well-crafted set pieces highlighting both the excesses of this emperor's reign and his imperial milieu." -Washington Independent Review of Books

"A marvelous book. Stephen Dando-Collins offers a fresh scholarly perspective on the notorious emperor Caligula that succeeds admirably in being of interest both to professional scholars of the early Roman Empire and to the general reader. This is a lively, engaging volume that is a true pleasure to read. Anyone interested in ancient Rome will want to acquire and enjoy this great new addition to the bibliography." -Dr. Lee Fratanuono, Professor of Classics, Ohio Wesleyan University, author of Caligula: An Unexpected General

Author Biography: Stephen Dando-Collins is the award-winning author of 40 books, including children's novels and biographies. The majority of his works deal with military history ranging from Greek and Roman times to American 19th century history and World War I and World War II. Many of his books have been translated into foreign languages including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Albanian and Korean. Considered an authority on the legions of ancient Rome, his most recent work on the subject, 2012's Legions of Rome, was the culmination of decades of research into the individual legions of Rome. With all his books, Dando-Collins aims to travel roads that others have not, unearthing new facts and opening new perspectives on often forgotten or overlooked people and aspects of history. Australian-born, he has a background in advertising, marketing and market research. His latest book is MR SHOWBIZ, the first ever biography of international music, stage and movie mogul Robert Stigwood, who managed the Bee Gees, Cream, Clapton, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber among many others, and produced Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Saturday Night Fever and Grease.