Julius Caesar the catamite of King of Bithnyia?? Augustus singeing off his leg hair with hot walnut shells!! Caligula's seductive maiden dance!! Oh my! Simply delicious!

Sex and violence, scandal and murder, depravity and excess. Those Roman historians knew how to write history! Forget the awful ROME TV series - this is the real deal, and it's infinitely more salacious and more outrageous, and far more entertaining.

Chose this prior to my trip to Italy. Learned a lot. Laughed at the foibles of mankind. Some very intimate, even embarrassing, details about the Roman emperors and their personal lives, their claims to fame and their foibles.

Well, this is one juicy gossip-fest if ever there was one. Downright scandalous and thoroughly entertaining. Bravo, Suetonius. I don't care if everyone doubts you or doesn't think you are credible enough. You are like that friend who dishes relentlessly, unmercifully, deliciously. This is what History should be all about.

If your a history, human nature, or TMZ fan. You'll like Suetonius. Fascinating read. The Roman emperors were demigods. This book could read like any biography of powerful men during any age. Kinda of an ancient Tell All for the Caesars.

I found this book completely fascinating. It's true what they say "Power currupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely". The Twelve Caesars proved it.

Brilliantly chatty, scandalous and licentious biographies of the first twelve men to wear the purple in Rome. Perfect for when you want to be entertained with something that isn't too heavy going.

One of those classics that is a genuine, even salacious pleasure to read, and the historical basis for Robert Graves's "I, Claudius", "The Twelve Caesars" covers the first twelve emperors of Ancient Rome (Including Julius Caesar, though Augustus was the first officially); the Julio-Claudians through Nero, his very brief successors Galba,Otho and Vitellius (in the tumultuous 'year of three Emperors', A.D. 69), and finally the Flavians Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. Secretary to Hadrian, Suetonius had direct access to the Imperial archives, which gives his account a depth and immediacy lacking in the other Roman chroniclers' accounts, as well as a wealth of anecdote regarding the subjects' often scandalous personal lives. While full of jaw-dropping accounts of ... MoreOne of those classics that is a genuine, even salacious pleasure to read, and the historical basis for Robert Graves's "I, Claudius", "The Twelve Caesars" covers the first twelve emperors of Ancient Rome (Including Julius Caesar, though Augustus was the first officially); the Julio-Claudians through Nero, his very brief successors Galba,Otho and Vitellius (in the tumultuous 'year of three Emperors', A.D. 69), and finally the Flavians Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. Secretary to Hadrian, Suetonius had direct access to the Imperial archives, which gives his account a depth and immediacy lacking in the other Roman chroniclers' accounts, as well as a wealth of anecdote regarding the subjects' often scandalous personal lives. While full of jaw-dropping accounts of profligacy and debauchery, the author nevertheless appears to be very conscientious in presenting balanced accounts of each ruler, often including differing accounts of the same events when the facts are in dispute, and carefully crediting even the worst Emperors with any mitigating benevolent acts -- this is no hatchet job in the manner of Procopius' 'Secret History', and appears to be very credible, on the whole. Each Emperor is given his own chapter, which begins with an account of his acts and accomplishments, followed by a discussion of his character and personal life. This non-chronological approach can sometimes be slightly confusing, but the Penguin Edition is replete with explanatory footnotes, glossaries, and maps of Rome and the Empire, which are very helpful to the lay reader. A bonus for those who come to this work after reading and loving Robert Graves's novels and wanting more is that this is his own fine and pellucid translation from the Latin. A very informative read for anyone interested in Imperial Rome, and juicy fun as well!

A piece of gossip if there ever was one. Suetonius tells us all the juicy bits about the Emperors of Rome, and while flattering the Emperor of that time, Hadrian (who didn't trust him one bit, since he was found plotting with Hadrian's wife)he writes about the vices and virtues of the likes of Caesar, Augustus and Nero. Surprisingly entertaining and fun.

Caesars may be psychotic, but they're a great read. Feeling an overkill on Roman history ATM. Thank goodness-- after Julius Caesar, it's Socrates and a break. :P