The reign of Nero is often judged to be the embodiment of the extravagance and corruption that have, for many, come to symbolise ancient Rome. David Shotter provides a reassessment of this view in this accessible introduction to Nero, emperor of Rome from AD 54 to AD 68. All the major issues are discussed including: Nero's early life and accession to power, Nero's perception of himself, Nero's domestic and international policies, and the reasons for Nero's fall from power and its aftermath. This new edition has been revised throughout to take account of recent research in the field. Also included is an expanded bibliography and a new index.