The Splendor Before the Dark: A Novel of the Emperor Nero
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The Splendor Before the Dark: A Novel of the Emperor Nero Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Margaret George (Author), Steve West (Narrator), Katharine Lee McEwan (Narrator),
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 464 ratings
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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. But there are those who find his rampant quest for glory dangerous. Throughout the empire, false friends and spies conspire against him, not understanding what drives him to undertake the impossible.

Nero will either survive and be the first in his family to escape the web of betrayals that is the Roman court, or be ensnared and remembered as the last radiance of the greatest dynasty the world has ever known.

"A resplendent novel filled with the gilt and marble of the ancient world." (C. W. Gortner, author of The Romanov Empress)

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  1. Listening Length
    21 hours and 42 minutes
  2. Author
    Margaret George
  3. Narrator
    Steve West, see all
  4. Audible release date
    November 6, 2018
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B07JJJ684D
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 21 hours and 42 minutes
Author Margaret George
Narrator Steve West, Katharine Lee McEwan, Susan Denaker
Audible.com Release Date November 06, 2018
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07JJJ684D
Best Sellers Rank #40,235 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#41 in Ancient History Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#141 in Ancient History Fiction (Books)
#149 in Biographical Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
464 global ratings
A Stunning tale of Nero
5 Stars
A Stunning tale of Nero
This stunning tale of the Emperor Nero concludes Margaret Georges Duology about the Emperors life and places us firmly in the realm of ancient Rome. Whether you are a fan of historical fiction or not you will be sucked into this epic tale. The writing pulls you in, the setting keeps you firmly in the books grasp and the characters will compel you to keep reading. They are both heroic and at the same time flawed in the way that all humans are, keeping the authenticity of the story intact. The story begins with the Great Fire of Rome and we find ourselves thrust right into the action. Nero himself was blamed for the fire and that had long reaching consequences for his reign. What really brought this book to life is George’s portrayal of Nero. She really brings him to life in a way that you can really see the man that he might have been. I loved this book and I definitely recommend it. Though I would suggest reading the first book in the duology before this one.
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Top reviews from the United States

Cindy D. Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, learned so much about Nero I never knew.....for MG fans, this doesn't disappoint
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019
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I am a fan of Margaret George and have read all of her books. I have every one of them in hardback on my library shelf and I have read a few of my favorites more than once. I was drawn to her writing for the strong female historical characters she portrayed, such as Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, and Mary Magdalen, so I was unsure I would enjoy this one as much. But I read "Confessions of a Young Nero" and was entranced with his story- so I had to continue with this one, and was NOT disappointed with "The Splendor Before the Dark" - I am so glad I read it and learned about this amazing human, all three sides of him, and of course, the story is masterfully crafted so you see him at times through the eyes of some of his dearest female companions (also strong women!). Delightful and absolutely captivating. Thank you Margaret George..... I am in great anticipation of your next book!
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Jackson Coppley
4.0 out of 5 stars Nero Reimagined
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2022
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I became interested in the Roman emperor Nero in researching my novel The Fire Starters and touring his buried Golden House in Rome. The emperor’s legend today is undergoing another look by several scholars. Most of my generation hold the image portrayed by Peter Ustinov in the movie Quo Vadis as a mad, cruel monster, somewhat older and fatter than the teenager who actually assumed the throne. Author Margaret George reimagines Nero more as a youth, telling his own story in his own words.

In The Young Nero, Lucius tells us about his life, starting with uncle Caligula attempting to drown him as an infant through the time Claudius adopts him, changes his name changed to Nero, all under his mother Agrippina’s manipulation to make him ruler. The book stops before the great fire of Rome.

In The Splendor Before the Dark, Nero tells his story beginning with the great fire and follows through to his abandonment by allies and his forced suicide.

Both stories are told in the first person by Nero, with a few others in his life picking up the narrative in a chapter here and there. The self-telling of his story makes Nero a more sympathetic character, one loved by the common citizen for his audacity in chariot racing and disliked by the ruling class for his excesses. The author allows you to take Nero’s side.

However, as a first-person narrative, the story is at times dry. Although enlivened by other characters taking their turn in the story with a few chapters, there cannot be surprises for the reader.

As another approach to the story of Nero, I recommend it.
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Ambrose Stoat
5.0 out of 5 stars Well done.
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2023
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Well packaged. Arrived on time.
Book in good shape and quite readable.
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Mina
5.0 out of 5 stars it is a myth that Nero cared so little for Rome that he "fiddled" while Rome burned
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2020
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the two books that this author writes covering the life and rule of Nero are exceptional. Well written , interesting, and a great view of life in those times , and with all those very famous players.
I couldn't help but feel sorry for him as most of the people around him just could not be trusted-what vipers the people in power were, and they had knives!!
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E
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the first book
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2020
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This book is not nearly as good as her first book about young Nero. Descriptions are rather tedious, as if she is trying to stretch the story into a full book length. I bought this sequel because I really enjoyed the first book.
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Joanne OKeefe
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Fantastic Read from Margaret George!
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2019
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Margaret George has an uncanny ability to bring a historical figure to life, along with recreation of the time period. Once again, she has managed to do this with Nero. Both books depicting Nero as a young boy and when older were excellent. I particularly enjoyed the second book and was sad that it came to an end. I had read the Confessions of Young Nero some time ago and re-read it before reading the second part of his life in The Splendor Before the Dark. I have yet to read a book by Margaret George that I don't like. The amount of research she puts into a book is phenomenal. I've enjoyed all her historical fiction novels. The only downer is that I'll have to wait for her next great epic!
5 people found this helpful
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Leslie Lindsay
4.0 out of 5 stars Compassionate and Deeply Researched Historical Fiction
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2018
Ascending the throne was only the beginning for Nero. THE SPLENDOR BEFORE THE DARK picks up right after 2017's THE CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG EMPEROR, beginning with the Great Fire of Rome.

Margaret George is at the height of her game. Her passion and meticulous research shine in this sequel to THE CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG EMPEROR (Berkley, 2017), in which she set out to recast the tyrannical, hedonistic ruler of Rome as the truly naive boy he was (having ascended the throne at age sixteen at his mother's sheer force of will). Margaret--and Nero--won me over then and THE SPLENDOR BEFORE THE DARK (Berkley November 6, 2018) captured me just as much, maybe more.

After just ten years in power, Nero faces his biggest test: the Great Fire of Rome. Flames lick at wooden buildings, entire swaths of the city are reduced to rubble, monuments desecrated. And people are talking--did Nero start the fire himself? Was there another arsonist? Did Nero do anything to prevent it?

Aside from that, Nero is surrounded by false friends, spies, and those who conspire against him. He's trying his best to be a just ruler, compassionate, and loyal, yet he falls in disarray time and time again. Still, I had such a soft spot for Nero and was silently cheering him on.

From chariot races to the Grecian Olympics, art and music, THE SPLENDOR BEFORE THE DARK has so much to offer just about every reader. There's love and mayhem, death and destruction, luxury and intrigue, and of course, the 'insidious effects of power,' as Diana Gabaldon says.

Told from the POV of three main characters--Locusta (an herbal medicine doctor), Acte (a woman who has stolen Nero's heart), and (largely) Nero himself , I was in awe. Margaret George has outdone herself and her passion for the subject matter truly shines.

There were a few instances in which I skimmed over names and some details (those old Roman names are sort of challenging to keep track of/pronounce) and there were opportunities in which I wanted to know more physical descriptions of the characters , but aside from that, I found THE SPLENDOR BEFORE THE DARK to be a gorgeous historical fiction read.

L.Lindsay
Always with a Book
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cj
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting captivating historical novel
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2021
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Enjoyable read. Caused me to question my prior beliefs of Nero and early Roman times. I highly recommend reading this book if you have Interest in the Roman Empire
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Top reviews from other countries

DixieAl
5.0 out of 5 stars historical fiction at its best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2023
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Today we think of Nero as the one who fiddled while Rome burned. Margaret George’s learned research as the basis of this life story sets us straight. Yes, Nero was a musician, a poet, a singer, but he was so much more. He was a governor, a lover of the great city of Rome, its restorer after the fire. He was an athlete, a jockey, a horse racer. This novel brings to vivid life the Roman days of 2000 years ago, at least of the upper crust. Well written, exciting, detailed.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly done sequel
Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2019
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If there is any author who deserves to be known as the reigning Queen of Historical fiction, it is Ms. George. She doesn't just write historical fiction, she brings history to life, filling in spaces with her meticulous research and imagining how life might have been back then.

In Splendor Before the Dark , we get a gloriously lush ending to the narrative of Nero's life. The sense of betrayal is palpable as is his tone deafness at times. Ms. George writes no flat characters, hits no sour notes. You feel Nero's astonishment when he finds out who is betraying him (I am purposely trying to leave this review spoiler free - sorry!) and you can also feel is descent into a sort of madness at times. When the final betrayal comes, it is done so well and so harshly that I cringed and yes, I shed a tear for Nero. Remember, history is written by the victors; it always has been. That is why people like the Borgias are judged so harshly too.
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AntBee
5.0 out of 5 stars Good But Not Great As The First Book
Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2021
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This second book on Nero, to me, was not as great of a read as the first one. It tends to bog down in some places, and can seem quite repetitive.
I do love Margaret George’s books as a whole, though. I’ve read many of them multiple times.
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Anna
4.0 out of 5 stars Didn’t know how Nero died ! Changed my opinion of him .
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2020
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Had read her earlier novel the young Nero !
So had to have this ! Price was reasonable.
Some chapters I found boring !
But totally changed your view on Nero !
As all I knew about him was Nero fiddled while Rome burned !
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Amazing Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2021
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A worthy follow up to the first book and every bit as illuminating and entertaining.
They are together an explanation and interpretation of one of the great Romans, and a man of whom popular history has been unkind.
Margaret George's writing (and research) shines a literary light once again.
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