Svetonio fu uno storico romano della prima era imperiale, rinomato per la sua opera biografica. Il suo contributo superstite più significativo è una raccolta di vite di dodici sovrani romani, che ne narra i regni da Giulio Cesare a Domiziano. Oltre a queste biografie imperiali, esplorò anche la vita quotidiana romana, la politica e le vite di notevoli figure letterarie. Sebbene molti dei suoi altri scritti siano andati perduti, quelli rimasti offrono preziose intuizioni sulla società romana e sui suoi individui di spicco.
Enriched by anecdotes, gossip, and details of character and personal appearance, Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius (born c. 70 CE) is a valuable and colourful source of information about the first twelve Roman emperors, Roman imperial politics, and Roman imperial socity. Part of Suetonius Lives of Illustrious Men (of letters) also survives.
The Lives of the Caesars include the biographies of Julius Caesar and the eleven subsequent emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitelius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian. Suetonius composed his material from a variety of sources, without much concern for their reliability. His biographies consist the ancestry and career of each emperor in turn; however, his interest is not so much analytical or historical, but anecdotal and salacious which gives rise to a lively and provocative succession of portraits. The account of Julius Caesar does not simply mention his crossing of the Rubicon and his assassination, but draws attention to his dark piercing eyes and attempts to conceal his baldness. The Live of Caligula presents a vivid picture of the emperor's grotesque appearance, his waywardness, and his insane cruelties. The format and style of Suetonius' Lives of the Caesars was to set the tone for biography throughout western literature - his work remains thoroughly readable and full of interest. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Enriched by anecdotes, gossip, and details of character and personal appearance, Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius (born c. 70 CE) is a valuable and colorful source of information about the first twelve Roman emperors, Roman imperial politics, and Roman imperial society. Part of Suetonius Lives of Illustrious Men (of letters) also survives.