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Stephen Dando-Collins is the award-winning author of 40 books, including children's novels and biographies. The majority of his works deal with military history ranging from Greek and Roman times to American 19th century history and World War I and World War II. Many of his books have been translated into foreign languages including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Albanian and Korean. Considered an authority on the legions of ancient Rome, his most recent work on the subject, 2012's Legions of Rome, was the culmination of decades of research into the individual legions of Rome. With all his books, Dando-Collins aims to travel roads that others have not, unearthing new facts and opening new perspectives on often forgotten or overlooked people and aspects of history. Australian-born, he has a background in advertising, marketing and market research. His latest book is MR SHOWBIZ, the first ever biography of international music, stage and movie mogul Robert Stigwood, who managed the Bee Gees, Cream, Clapton, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber among many others, and produced Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Saturday Night Fever and Grease.
Caligula: The Mad Emperor of Rome is a compelling page-turner, a timeless story. It reads like a political thriller. Which it is. It reads like a work of investigative journalism. Which it is. It reads like a myth-busting period history. Which it is. The author, clearly familiar with, yet never pedantic about, all the primary sources, dispels many old libels masquerading for centuries as fake news. Meanwhile he provides us with an abundance of documented stories so lurid as to dwarf the overhyped misdemeanors of today. Long ago I was tipped off to on an open secret: Colleen McCulloch's pulp masterpieces in Masters of Rome were so accurate as to be held in awe as a kind of quasi-history by the `Secret Fraternity of Latin Teachers.' If you enjoy historical fiction you will love this historical fact of Caligula (the book, not the Emperor!). Caligula may herald the perfection of a new literary genre: forensic history. It takes narrative history to a virtuosic level with a timeless story extraordinarily well-told. -- Ralph Benko, columnist
