How far is it from The Life of 12 Caesars by Suetonius, or rather why should I read Holland rather than already established primary source on exactly the same topic and on which, I presume, Holland leaned heavily?

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9 years ago
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Rob Atkinson Suetonius was the primary source for Graves' "I, Claudius" fictions (wonderful, if you haven't read them) and I'd also read Graves' translation of Suetonius if taking it on -- though it's one of those classics that reads like a guilty pleasure, so have no fears! Suetonius is very entertaining, but he is the most gossipy of all the ancient Roman historians/biographers; while a valuable source, one must bear in mind that he gleefully repeats every rumor he can get his hands on, and while making for colorful reading it may involve an exaggeration or outright falsehood at times. Naturally it is a source for Holland, though his bibliography is broad and deep. As for the classics he seems to also rely on Tacitus and Cassius Dio, but he's apparently deeply read in more recent analyses of the history. One must always remember to read the ancient historians in context as they often have an axe to grind, or highlight an aspect of past corruption or injustice to make a subtle point about their own times, and some modern revisionists believe that some of the emperors here (really, all of them, post Augustus) are unfairly maligned to some degree. I found Holland to be even-handed in his approach, giving credit for the good actions of even the most notorious emperors, and providing alternate explanations for some of the scuttlebutt that attends the histories of Caligula and Nero in particular. Beyond this, his writing is a pleasure to read, fluid and often witty, and never dry and academic. If like myself you love the history of ancient Rome (which your having read Suetonius suggests) it's about as good as it gets for this period; having read tons (both Classical and modern) on this early imperial period I can honestly say Holland makes this well-trodden territory seem fresh again, with a renewed focus on family dynamics, social history, and a discerning sifting of (probable) fact from fiction.

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Palmyrah My review of Dynasty began as an answer to your question. Have a look at it and see if it makes you want to read the book.

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