A review by cerandor
Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar by Tom Holland

4.0

Tom Holland returns to the Roman subject matter that marked his first blockbuster history time with the story of the first five emperors and the Julio-Claudian dynasty that they comprised. There is treachery and depravity aplenty here, and once again a reminder that as familiar as the Romans may be, they didn't think in the same way as the citizens of the civilisations that trace their lineage back to them. The focus on five emperors allows for a lot of depth and Holland's trademark psychological insights, but by the end you may find yourself wishing for a greater breadth of scope.