Blood of the Caesars

How the Murder of Germanicus Led to the Fall of Rome

By: Stephen Dando-Collins

Narrated by: Robert Blumenfeld

Could the killing of Germanicus Julius Caesar - the grandson of Mark Antony, adopted son of the emperor Tiberius, father of Caligula, and grandfather of Nero - while the Roman Empire was still in its infancy have been the root cause of the empire's collapse more than four centuries later? This brilliant investigation of Germanicus Caesar’s death and its aftermath is both a compelling history and first-class murder mystery with a plot twist Agatha Christie would envy.

©2008 Stephen Dando-Collins (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Revelatory

I had always believed through my research that it was the assassination of Germanicus that directly led to the decline and eventual fall of the Roman empire. I happened upon this book because the author clearly believed the same. I'm glad that I came across it because I definitely learned something mind-blowing from it, and I will never think of Seneca the same. It's a good book and worth a read-through Or listen through.

Brilliant, breathtaking, unforgettable

What made the experience of listening to Blood of the Caesars the most enjoyable?

This book is arguably the greatest who-dun-it ever written. From beginning to end, it is as exciting as any novel I've ever read (listened to), only the plot and characters are entirely historical and not fictional, and moreover, their actions and fate are of the greatest import in European indeed world history. Along the way, we get a remarkably vivid account of the Roman empire during the half century after Augustus. I listened to it in a day and my heart is still beating faster from it!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blood of the Caesars?

There are many. This book not only brings history to life, it brings it into focus.

Which character – as performed by Robert Blumenfeld – was your favorite?

Robert Blumenfeld as always is excellent. This book, however, is historical in nature and so the question of performing a character does not apply.

Any additional comments?

I have read several books by Dando-Collins and have learned much from them, but this is surely his magnum opus. And its subject keeps it from being marred by his annoying habit of using modern military rank. An absolute must-read if you are interested in history.