Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus otherwise known affectionately as 'Caligula' by his contemporaries has always been forced to live up to someone's legacy; be it his own father's, Germanicus Julius Caesar who was a Roman prince and adopted son of Tiberius, who also was adopted by the first Roman emperor, Gaius Octavius Thurinus, otherwise known as Augustus. A descendant of both Marc Anthony of Cleopatra fame as well as Augustus, Caligula has always done his best to blend in, and numerous times had even his own life threatened either by scheming relatives or else by the closest advisers to him. Historians of the time paint him as 'mad' as well as paranoid, and very often time has not been kind to Caligula, his redemption growing further and further away. However, was Caligula as horrible as he was portrayed, or were there reasons that his actions and deeds became seen as evil? The author, Stephen Dando- Collins intends to discover those answers in a book titled CALIGULA; THE MAD EMPEROR OF ROME.

From cover to cover, CALIGULA: THE MAD EMPEROR OF ROME by Stephen Dando-Collins is truly a masterful and gripping read about an emperor that was seen as maligned, and that apparently had his legacies passed on to his successors, namely Claudius and Nero. Suetonius, just like with Tiberius, Claudius and Nero painted Caligula as an emperor who committed incest with his flesh and blood, as well as someone who was too paranoid and who began throwing away the acquired fortune. Stephen Dando-Collins though, looks behind Caligula's actions, daring to put them into proper context, and I actually enjoyed watching as Stephen Dando-Collins tore Suetonius apart.

Stephen Dando-Collins also used other numerous primary sources, and he leaves no stone unturned as the life of Caligula begins to unfold before the readers. CALIGULA: THE MAD EMPEROR OF ROME by Stephen Dando-Collins is both a tale of observation, lots of research, and familiarity and it even dares to bring up the possible redemption for Caligula. It's also an engaging tale of an emperor that is forced to survive and has always felt he had to be a step ahead of those who seek him harm.

For an engaging and investigative tale that is about one of the more maligned emperors of Rome, CALIGULA: THE MAD EMPEROR OF ROME By Stephen Dando-Collins should be a wonderful and enchanting read of giving the reader a fuller picture of Caligula.