Ancient Scroll Unveils Secrets of Roman Emperors, Soaring to Bestseller Status

null

The Roman "Popbitch": The Lives of the Caesars Enters Bestseller Charts

**Gossip from the Ancient World** Political scandals and foreign policy blunders aren't just limited to modern politicians. In the early second century, the Roman scholar Suetonius chronicled the juicy details of the first set of Roman emperors. Now, their indiscretions and eccentricities have been unearthed in a new English translation that's captivating bookshops. **The Book of Emperors** The Lives of the Caesars, translated by Tom Holland, covers the reign of Julius Caesar and the first 11 Roman emperors. Since its publication on February 13, the book has ascended to the Sunday Times hardback nonfiction chart, marking a historic milestone for Penguin Classics as the first hardback nonfiction classic to achieve this feat. **Ancient Rome's Pop Culture Moment** Holland attributes the book's popularity to several factors, including Rome's enduring fascination as the ancient civilization that most captivates Britons and Westerners. Additionally, the Roman understanding of power continues to resonate, particularly in the United States, where concerns about the potential decline of the Republic into autocracy have been amplified in recent times. **A Psychological Masterpiece** Holland emphasizes Suetonius's exceptional skill in crafting The Lives of the Caesars. He describes it as "ancient Rome's Popbitch," a juicy collection of scandal and intimate details that reveals the psychological depths of these historical figures. **A Timeless Bestseller** "Had there been bestseller lists in second-century Rome, Suetonius's Lives of the Caesars would undoubtedly have been on them," said Stuart Proffitt, publishing director at Penguin Press. **The Rest Is History Effect** Holland believes the popularity of his podcast, The Rest Is History, has contributed to the book's success. The podcast featured four episodes on Suetonius, which garnered over 17.5 million downloads in the same month. **A Labor of Love** Holland likens the experience of translating Suetonius's work to a marriage: "You spend a long time, a long period with someone who you think you're going to enjoy the company of, so it's always good to discover that actually you do."