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Nero: A Compelling Dive into Ancient Rome's Infamous Emperor
In "Nero," Stephen Phillips crafts a rich tapestry of historical fiction that immerses readers in the life of one of Rome's most infamous emperors. Phillips employs a lyrical and evocative prose style that reflects the grandeur and decadence of the Roman Empire while intertwining historical accuracy with imaginative narrative. The book delves into Nero's complex psyche, exploring themes of power, art, and the often blurry line between tyrant and artist. Set against a backdrop of political intrigue, revolts, and cultural developments, it offers a multifaceted portrait of a ruler whose legacy remains contentious to this day. Stephen Phillips, an esteemed writer and scholar of ancient history, draws from his extensive research on Roman civilization to breathe life into this historical figure. His insights into the socio-political landscape of ancient Rome allow him to present Nero not just as a tyrant but as an individual shaped by ambition and societal expectations. Phillips's passion for the topic, combined with his expertise in the nuances of historical narrative, informs the intricate plot and character development throughout the novel. Readers interested in a thought-provoking exploration of historical darkness and creativity will find "Nero" a compelling addition to their literary collection. Phillips'Äôs narrative invites readers to reflect on the nature of leadership and the price of artistic genius, making it an essential read for anyone fascinated by the intersections of history, politics, and human psychology.
55 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 23, 2011
An ordinary play about Emperor Nero
19 November 2009
Basically this is a four act play based on the life of Nero beginning with his ascension to the throne and ending with the great fire of Rome. Nothing truly amazing on the scale of Bernard Shaw, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. However, I must admit that I do prefer Shakespeare's standard of a five act play, and while it ended at the great fire, this is not the whole story of Nero, and a final act could have been added which dealt with the aftermath of the fire and his eventual downfall.
Further, it is difficult to call this play a tragedy. It does not deal with a fatal flaw (and Nero did have fatal flaws) nor does it end badly. It ends with him accepting that the great fire was punishment for his murder of his mother, though there are suggestions that he planned the fire so that he could rebuild Rome. Obviously there is still a lot of scholarly debate as to whether Nero was the cause of the fire or not, but my understanding is that while he did not start the fire, he did not act to stop it, and one of the reasons is that because he wanted to remodel Rome. There is the saying that Nero fiddled while Rome burned, and it may have been more entertaining if he was actually playing a fiddle at the time.
19 November 2009
Basically this is a four act play based on the life of Nero beginning with his ascension to the throne and ending with the great fire of Rome. Nothing truly amazing on the scale of Bernard Shaw, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. However, I must admit that I do prefer Shakespeare's standard of a five act play, and while it ended at the great fire, this is not the whole story of Nero, and a final act could have been added which dealt with the aftermath of the fire and his eventual downfall.
Further, it is difficult to call this play a tragedy. It does not deal with a fatal flaw (and Nero did have fatal flaws) nor does it end badly. It ends with him accepting that the great fire was punishment for his murder of his mother, though there are suggestions that he planned the fire so that he could rebuild Rome. Obviously there is still a lot of scholarly debate as to whether Nero was the cause of the fire or not, but my understanding is that while he did not start the fire, he did not act to stop it, and one of the reasons is that because he wanted to remodel Rome. There is the saying that Nero fiddled while Rome burned, and it may have been more entertaining if he was actually playing a fiddle at the time.
March 20, 2018
Play
Well written play. If you wanted to play this out with friends, great fun. I had a general understanding of the narcissistic Agrippina from reading Robert Graves and found this easy to understand unlike some of Shakespeare plays. The homicidal nut jobs that governed hasn't much changed in todays geographic.
Well written play. If you wanted to play this out with friends, great fun. I had a general understanding of the narcissistic Agrippina from reading Robert Graves and found this easy to understand unlike some of Shakespeare plays. The homicidal nut jobs that governed hasn't much changed in todays geographic.
June 5, 2019
So fucking tired of thinking I'm about to read a story only to find out I've purchased or downloaded a short book of poetry or verse or a play, this being a play about Nero, I guess. Couldn't finish it. There aren't enough straight fiction or nonfiction books written about Ancient Rome.
June 7, 2020
A four act play based on the life of the (in)famous roman the emperor Nero, that sees his life through the beginning until the event he's arguably more remembered for, the Great Fire of Rome.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews