The Confessions of Young Nero

By: Margaret George

Narrated by: Steve West, Susan Denaker, Katharine Lee McEwan

Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling and legendary author of Helen of Troy and Elizabeth I now turns her gaze on Emperor Nero, one of the most notorious and misunderstood figures in history.

Built on the backs of those who fell before it, Julius Caesar's imperial dynasty is only as strong as the next person who seeks to control it. In the Roman Empire, no one is safe from the sting of betrayal: man, woman - or child.

As a boy Nero's royal heritage becomes a threat to his very life, first when the mad emperor Caligula tries to drown him, then when his great-aunt attempts to secure her own son's inheritance. Faced with shocking acts of treachery, young Nero is dealt a harsh lesson: It is better to be cruel than dead.

While Nero idealizes the artistic and athletic principles of Greece, his very survival rests on his ability to navigate the sea of vipers that is Rome. The most lethal of all is his own mother, a cold-blooded woman whose singular goal is to control the empire. With cunning and poison, the obstacles fall one by one. But as Agrippina's machinations earn her son a title he is both tempted and terrified to assume, Nero's determination to escape her thrall will shape him into the man he was fated to become - an emperor who became legendary.

With impeccable research and captivating prose, The Confessions of Young Nero is the story of a boy's ruthless ascension to the throne. Detailing his journey from innocent youth to infamous ruler, it is an epic tale of the lengths to which man will go in the ultimate quest for power and survival.

©2017 Margaret George (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“George’s reconstruction of the man, in terms both of his public life and private character, is more than a revisiting of fact: It’s a subtle exploration of identity and the insidious effects of power.... ‘Confessions’ is all about identity: How is it made, lost, reinvented?... Margaret George occupies that blurry space between history and fiction. And between Tacitus and Margaret George, I rather think it’s George’s account that is not only most sympathetic but most truthful.” (Diana Gabaldon, Washington Post) 

“Margaret George has performed about the most audacious act imaginable for a historical novelist - an epic work of fiction not merely sympathetic to Nero, but told largely in his own voice. I applaud. And so, I imagine, does that connoisseur of the arts Nero, watching from Elysium.” (Steven Saylor, author of Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome)

"Margaret George has an incredible talent in that she can stand in the shoes of her protagonist and speak in his or her voice.” (Barbara Taylor Bradford, author of The Cavendon Luck and A Woman of Substance)

A super boring PR Campaign

I love Margaret George. Helen of Troy is one of my favorite novels but I was disappointed with this one. Nero should be a diabolical character with lots of sensational material to work with. Margaret George whitewashed all his historically proven crimes into almost misunderstandings. Her Nero is a super gentle philanthropic artist ...
The result is a very boring read.

Unexpected

This was a wonderful look into the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and into the much maligned emperor. It was very interesting to see the story through his eyes and especially to listen to what he went through as a child. Honestly, the biggest shock for me was how young he was throughout the whole book, especially for the decisions he is making. Margaret George does a great job painting a picture of ancient Rome and keeping the tale both engaging and believable. She also does a great job ensuring that we don't get caught up in all of the strange names and places, which helped keep me immersed. She is sympathetic to Nero throughout, but also does not forgo mentioning the wrongs he did (and there were quite a few). I felt that the female narrators were fine, but really unnecessary for how much they were needed throughout the book. This was Nero's story, and I did not think the other points of view added much. Steve West did well, although sometimes he was a little too good at portraying Nero's tantrums and got a little annoying. Overall, a great, immersive tale about Ancient Rome and enough to make me want to learn more about this interesting emperor.

Nero

It was a slow beginning for a Margaret George book, but then it took off and was a great book.

Superb Performance but...

Any additional comments?

The narrator's performances (especially Steve West) were superb. Perhaps this was the only cause that made me finish listening to the book.

May be my expectations were too high because I was expecting a different "Nero"... In this book he is portrait as a poet, artist, but especially as good and remorseful??? Perhaps Margaret George wanted to vindicate his image and transform him into a complete opposite from the Nero that history has been telling us all this time.

Overall, sometimes it was a bit boring and I feel that it had a lot of information that could have been avoided.

inspiring look at a misunderstood leader

At first I was skeptical that the person Nero could actually be as good as depicted in the book... But the whole novel and the afterward were really informative about somebody who history has spat on. It was actually a really inspiring, unique person who was ahead of his time & send to care about the people

Nero, the real story

I can't say it was riveting but the author's desire to stay close to the story is probably why. Overall, it was an interesting read in most places

Great!

Where does The Confessions of Young Nero rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Too bad she never got to write the sequel. This was awesome. I love Margaret George for her writing, but also her exhaustive research. Very informative, but a pure pleasure as well.

Loved this book

I love novels that are historical. I loved how the author unfolded Nero's life and made him so real. What a feat to uncover who Nero really was and not just go off what was written about him. I look so forward to reading the second book.

wonderful read

I have read all of Margaret George's books and this one like her others, doesn't disappoint. I believe her history over many others because she gets to the heart of her protagonist and let's us glimpse them for ourselves. Great book

Simply Stunning.

Mentally/ Visually a feast for your brains eyes. I cannot wait to re- engage this novel again and again.