The best-selling author of The Fires of Vesuvius presents a comprehensive history of the social and political world of the Roman emperors including Julius Caesar, Nero, Alexander Severus, Caligula, and Marcus Aurelius.

The main characters -- Maps -- Welcome -- Prologue: Dinner with Elagabalus -- One-man rule : the basics -- Who's next? : the art of succession -- Power dining -- What's in a palace? -- Palace people : the emperor in his court -- On the job -- Time off? -- Emperors abroad -- Face to face -- 'I think I am becoming a God' -- Epilogue: The end of an era -- What's in a name? -- Further reading and places to visit -- List of illustrations -- Timeline.