The Splendor Before the Dark: A Novel of the Emperor Nero

Nero's ascent to the throne was only the beginning....

Now, Margaret George, the author of The Confessions of Young Nero, weaves a web of politics and passion, as ancient Rome’s most infamous emperor cements his place in history.With the beautiful and cunning Poppaea at his side, Nero commands the Roman empire, ushering in an unprecedented era of artistic and cultural splendor.

Although he has yet to produce an heir, his power is unquestioned.But in the 10th year of his reign, a terrifying prophecy comes to pass and a fire engulfs Rome, reducing entire swaths of the city to rubble.

Rumors of Nero’s complicity in the blaze start to sow unrest among the populace - and the politicians....For better or worse, Nero knows that his fate is now tied to Rome’s - and he vows to rebuild it as a city that will stun the world.