Guy Suetonius Tranquille. Biographies of the Caesars

In his captivating work, «The Twelve Caesars» renowned Roman historian Gaius Suetonius delves beyond the grandeur of Roman history to unveil the darker, behind-the-scenes lives of the emperors. Alongside accounts of courage, valor, and integrity, readers are exposed to shocking displays of cruelty, debauchery, tyranny, and greed, which, in a strange twist, coexisted with high moral values among both individual rulers and Roman culture as a whole.
This ancient work, penned in the early 2nd century, bears an uncanny resemblance to the modern world of political maneuverings and backroom intrigues. Ancient Rome emerges as a prototype of our contemporary world, where alongside bravery, courage, and honesty, there exist baseness, treachery, and audacity.
It is particularly fascinating to observe how power, within a very short period, can transform the character and disposition of individuals, even those of exceptional strength of spirit. Only a select few could resist its allure and refrain from abusing their positions.