INFERNO

The tumultuous capstone of the Nero trilogy, following Nero (2024) and Tyrant (2025).

In 60 C.E., Nero Claudius Caesar still wants to be a noble Roman. But as emperor, his absolute power will be his ruin. At first, the senate does his bidding and tolerates his licentious spending on monuments to himself. He’s already had his mother, Agrippina, murdered. Now he divorces his first wife, Octavia, then has her killed, too. Then he “accidentally” kills his next wife, Poppaea, when she’s nearly ready to give birth. After his friend and mentor Seneca causes mild offense, he instructs the older man to go home, write his last will and testament, and then slit his own wrists while soldiers witness the deed. This is a more merciful death than the crucifixions meted out to Christ’s followers. Christian gatherings are punishable by death perhaps because Nero intuits the deep threat to Roman authority posed by the nascent faith. Meanwhile, Nero fancies himself a man of the arts whose poetry, acting, and music touch the souls of his audiences. They must applaud, of course. He recalls Seneca’s admonition that “it would be vulgar for an emperor to declaim on the stage, or play my lyre, or act out scenes in mime,” but says, “I have a gift, Seneca.” It’s unclear from the story how much talent Nero really had, but in one dramatic scene he plays his lyre onstage even as Rome is devoured by flames. Meanwhile, he depletes the treasury on projects of self-adulation while ordinary Romans can’t buy bread. He corrupts silver coins with lead, but the trick doesn’t work for long. Then, bored by Rome, he takes an extended trip to the Greek province to indulge his artistic side. He’s so happy with his reception there that he does something his senators will not forgive. To the west, an army gathers to overthrow him. His world closes in ever more tightly—and he’s only 30 years old. “What a loss I shall be to the arts,” he says. This series is rich in gritty details of daily life and in vivid portrayals of Nero and more sympathetic characters such as Seneca and Poppaea.

An epic tragedy by a master storyteller.