The Splendor Before the Dark
A Novel of the Emperor Nero
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $27.00
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Steve West
-
Katharine Lee McEwan
-
Susan Denaker
-
By:
-
Margaret George
About this listen
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)
©2018 Margaret George (P)2018 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
-
Mary, Called Magdalene
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 30 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared - and the one commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient honorific "Apostle to the Apostles". Today, Mary continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this renowned woman's voice.
-
-
Good story, but flawed
- By Linda Erlich on 02-08-16
By: Margaret George
-
The Memoirs of Cleopatra
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Donada Peters
- Length: 49 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This novel allows the unscrupulous and proud Queen of the Nile to recount her own tale. A masterful recreation of history.
-
-
I felt like I was there
- By Michael A. Vasquez on 03-05-07
By: Margaret George
-
Helen of Troy
- A Novel
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
- Length: 30 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Daughter of a god, wife of a king, prize of antiquity's bloodiest war, Helen of Troy has inspired artists for millennia. Now Margaret George, the highly acclaimed best-selling historical novelist, has turned her intelligent, perceptive eye to the myth that is Helen of Troy.
-
-
A Very Different Take Than Homer
- By Troy on 08-31-12
By: Margaret George
-
Elizabeth I
- A Novel
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 31 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
New York Times best-selling author Margaret George captures history's most enthralling queen-as she confronts rivals to her throne and to her heart. One of today's premier historical novelists, George dazzles here as she tackles her most difficult subject yet: the legendary Elizabeth Tudor, queen of enigma - the Virgin Queen who had many suitors; the victor of the Armada who hated war; the gorgeously attired, jewel-bedecked woman who pinched pennies.
-
-
A different view of Elizabeth
- By Sarda on 05-10-12
By: Margaret George
-
Brothers York
- A Royal Tragedy
- By: Thomas Penn
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Brothers York is the story of three remarkable brothers, two of whom were crowned kings of England and the other an heir presumptive, whose antagonism was fueled by the mistrust and vendettas of the age that brought their family to power. The house of York should have been the dynasty that the Tudors became. Its tragedy was that it devoured itself.
-
-
Absorbing detail
- By Tad Davis on 08-06-20
By: Thomas Penn
-
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Donada Peters
- Length: 42 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An exhaustively researched novel weaves both historical fact and plausible fiction in bringing the story of Mary Queen of Scots to life.
-
-
Well written, well read
- By Robin on 12-01-09
By: Margaret George
-
Mary, Called Magdalene
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 30 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared - and the one commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient honorific "Apostle to the Apostles". Today, Mary continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this renowned woman's voice.
-
-
Good story, but flawed
- By Linda Erlich on 02-08-16
By: Margaret George
-
The Memoirs of Cleopatra
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Donada Peters
- Length: 49 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This novel allows the unscrupulous and proud Queen of the Nile to recount her own tale. A masterful recreation of history.
-
-
I felt like I was there
- By Michael A. Vasquez on 03-05-07
By: Margaret George
-
Helen of Troy
- A Novel
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
- Length: 30 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Daughter of a god, wife of a king, prize of antiquity's bloodiest war, Helen of Troy has inspired artists for millennia. Now Margaret George, the highly acclaimed best-selling historical novelist, has turned her intelligent, perceptive eye to the myth that is Helen of Troy.
-
-
A Very Different Take Than Homer
- By Troy on 08-31-12
By: Margaret George
-
Elizabeth I
- A Novel
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 31 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
New York Times best-selling author Margaret George captures history's most enthralling queen-as she confronts rivals to her throne and to her heart. One of today's premier historical novelists, George dazzles here as she tackles her most difficult subject yet: the legendary Elizabeth Tudor, queen of enigma - the Virgin Queen who had many suitors; the victor of the Armada who hated war; the gorgeously attired, jewel-bedecked woman who pinched pennies.
-
-
A different view of Elizabeth
- By Sarda on 05-10-12
By: Margaret George
-
Brothers York
- A Royal Tragedy
- By: Thomas Penn
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Brothers York is the story of three remarkable brothers, two of whom were crowned kings of England and the other an heir presumptive, whose antagonism was fueled by the mistrust and vendettas of the age that brought their family to power. The house of York should have been the dynasty that the Tudors became. Its tragedy was that it devoured itself.
-
-
Absorbing detail
- By Tad Davis on 08-06-20
By: Thomas Penn
-
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Donada Peters
- Length: 42 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An exhaustively researched novel weaves both historical fact and plausible fiction in bringing the story of Mary Queen of Scots to life.
-
-
Well written, well read
- By Robin on 12-01-09
By: Margaret George
-
The Autobiography of Henry VIII
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: David Case
- Length: 41 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Margaret George's novel brings into focus the larger-than-life King Henry VIII, monarch of prodigious appetites for wine, women, and song.
-
-
Perfection!
- By Amy M. Walts on 10-20-07
By: Margaret George
-
A Pillar of Iron
- A Novel of Ancient Rome
- By: Taylor Caldwell
- Narrated by: Simon Mattacks, Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 33 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From his birth in 106 BC in the hill town of Arpinum, Cicero, the educated son of a wealthy member of the equestrian order, is destined for greatness. From his tumultuous family life to his tenuous alliance with Julius Caesar to a fateful love affair with the Roman empress Livia and, finally, to the political role that will make him a target of powerful enemies, A Pillar of Iron is the story of Cicero's legacy as one the greatest influences on Western civilization.
-
-
great story
- By Theresa on 02-01-20
By: Taylor Caldwell
-
When Christ and His Saints Slept
- Plantagenets, Book 1
- By: Sharon Kay Penman
- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
- Length: 36 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In When Christ and His Saints Slept, the first of a trilogy that will tell the story of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, master storyteller and historian Sharon Kay Penman illuminates one of the less known but fascinating periods of English history. It begins with the death of King Henry I, son of William the Conqueror and father of Maude, his only living legitimate offspring.
-
-
Please release Pt 2!
- By BVerité on 06-08-19
-
Creation
- A Novel
- By: Gore Vidal
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 27 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cyrus Spitama, grandson of the prophet Zoroaster and lifelong friend of Xerxes, spent most of his life as Persian ambassador for the great king Darius. He traveled to India, where he discussed nirvana with Buddha, and to the warring states of Cathay, where he learned of Tao from Master Li and fished on the riverbank with Confucius. Now blind and aged in Athens - the Athens of Pericles, Sophocles, Thucydides, Herodotus, and Socrates - Cyrus recounts his days as he strives to resolve the fundamental questions that have guided his life’s journeys.
-
-
A Magnificent Tour de Force
- By Harry Haller on 01-31-20
By: Gore Vidal
-
Lily of the Nile
- The Cleopatra's Daughter Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Stephanie Dray
- Narrated by: Kyla Garcia
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With both of her parents dead, Princess Selene and her two surviving brothers are left at the mercy of their captors, taken from Egypt and put on display as war trophies in Rome. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene struggles for survival in a court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends.
-
-
Simple & basic storytelling that fell short of expectations!
- By Kris on 02-17-19
By: Stephanie Dray
-
Churchill
- Walking with Destiny
- By: Andrew Roberts
- Narrated by: Stephen Thorne
- Length: 50 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When we seek an example of great leaders with unalloyed courage, the person who comes to mind is Winston Churchill: the iconic, visionary war leader immune from the consensus of the day, who stood firmly for his beliefs when everyone doubted him. But how did young Winston become Churchill? What gave him the strength to take on the superior force of Nazi Germany when bombs rained on London and so many others had caved? In this landmark biography of Winston Churchill based on extensive new material, the true genius of the man, statesman, and leader can finally be fully understood.
-
-
Superb Biography
- By Jean on 03-03-19
By: Andrew Roberts
-
Burr
- A Novel (Narratives of Empire, Book 1)
- By: Gore Vidal
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 21 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here is an extraordinary portrait of one of the most complicated - and misunderstood - figures among the Founding Fathers. In 1804, while serving as vice president, Aaron Burr fought a duel with his political nemesis, Alexander Hamilton, and killed him. In 1807, he was arrested, tried, and acquitted of treason. In 1833, Burr is newly married, an aging statesman considered a monster by many. But he is determined to tell his own story, and he chooses to confide in a young New York City journalist. Burr is the first novel in Gore Vidal's Narratives of Empire series.
-
-
Finally! Vidal's Great Take on the Life of Burr
- By John Norton on 06-12-19
By: Gore Vidal
-
Alexander Hamilton
- By: Ron Chernow
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 35 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Historians have long told the story of America’s birth as the triumph of Jefferson’s democratic ideals over the aristocratic intentions of Hamilton. Chernow presents an entirely different man, whose legendary ambitions were motivated not merely by self-interest but by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build the foundations of American prosperity and power.
-
-
An Outstanding & Riveting Book!
- By Kevin on 03-04-05
By: Ron Chernow
-
Sarum
- By: Edward Rutherfurd
- Narrated by: Roger Davis
- Length: 53 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a novel of extraordinary richness the whole sweep of British civilisation unfolds through the story of one place, Salisbury, from beyond recorded time to the present day. The landscape - as old as time itself - shapes the destinies of the five families....
-
-
Epic story but hard to follow - need reference mat
- By mntsmtl on 11-22-19
-
Julian
- A Novel
- By: Gore Vidal
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner, George Newbern, David de Vries, and others
- Length: 20 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Julian the Apostate, nephew of Constantine the Great, was one of the brightest yet briefest lights in the history of the Roman Empire. A military genius on the level of Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great, a graceful and persuasive essayist, and a philosopher devoted to worshipping the gods of Hellenism, he became embroiled in a fierce intellectual war with Christianity that provoked his murder at the age of thirty-two, only four years into his brilliantly humane and compassionate reign.
-
-
Brilliant narration!
- By Abhishek Deepak on 10-23-19
By: Gore Vidal
-
The Land Beyond the Sea
- By: Sharon Kay Penman
- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
- Length: 31 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Kingdom of Jerusalem, also known as Outremer, is the land far beyond the sea. Baptized in blood when the men of the First Crusade captured Jerusalem from the Saracens in the early 12th century, the kingdom defined an utterly new world, a land of blazing heat and a medley of cultures, a place where enemies were neighbors and neighbors became enemies. At the helm of this growing kingdom sits young Baldwin IV, an intelligent and courageous boy committed to the welfare and protection of his people.
-
-
Not Penman's best.
- By Katie Hammond on 03-14-20
-
Catherine de Medici
- Renaissance Queen of France
- By: Leonie Frieda
- Narrated by: Sarah Le Fevre
- Length: 21 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Poisoner, despot, necromancer - the dark legend of Catherine de Medici is centuries old. In this critically hailed biography, Leonie Frieda reclaims the story of this unjustly maligned queen to reveal a skilled ruler battling extraordinary political and personal odds - from a troubled childhood in Florence to her marriage to Henry, son of King Francis I of France; from her transformation of French culture to her fight to protect her throne and her sons' birthright. Based on thousands of private letters, it is a remarkable account of one of the most influential women to wear a crown.
-
-
Narrator didn't get one name right
- By Georgina García- Menocal on 09-15-19
By: Leonie Frieda
Critic reviews
"George’s nuanced, well-researched character study depicts his candid inner self and how the performance of his short life played out on the Roman Empire’s vast stage. It succeeds admirably in persuading readers to reconsider their impressions of the infamous Nero." (Booklist starred review)
"A riveting, rich read with a breathtaking finale." (Woman’s World)
"Fascinating and fun." (The New York Post)
Related to this topic
-
The Seven Wonders
- A Novel of the Ancient World
- By: Steven Saylor
- Narrated by: Stephen Plunkett
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
USA Today hails Steven Saylor as a “modern master of historical fiction.” Rich in intrigue and period detail, his novels set in ancient Rome have garnered acclaim the world over. A prequel to his epic Roma Sub Rosa series, The Seven Wonders follows series star Gordianus the Finder as an 18-year-old traveling the Mediterranean to witness the wonders of that fabled age. At each stop, the young investigator finds a beguiling mystery that pushes his powers of deduction to the limit.
-
-
Interesting History, Not much of a story
- By Mark on 08-10-12
By: Steven Saylor
-
Funeral Games
- A Novel of Alexander the Great
- By: Mary Renault
- Narrated by: Roger May
- Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three, leaving behind an empire that stretched from Greece and Egypt to India.After Alexander's death in 323 B.C. his only direct heirs were two unborn sons and a simpleton half-brother. Every long-simmering faction exploded into the vacuum of power. Wives, distant relatives and generals all vied for the loyalty of the increasingly undisciplined Macedonian army. Most failed and were killed in the attempt.
-
-
Postmortem of an Empire and the Dream that United
- By James on 02-26-15
By: Mary Renault
-
The Mask of Apollo
- By: Mary Renault
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a vivid depiction of Ancient Greece and its legendary heroes, The Mask of Apollo tells the story of Nikeratos, the gifted tragic actor at the centre of political and cultural activity in Athens, 400 B. C. Wherever he goes, Nikeratos carries a golden mask of Apollo, a relic and reminder of an age when the theatre was at the height of its greatness and talent. Only a mascot at first, the mask gradually turns into Nikeratos' conscience as he encounters famous thinkers, actors, and philosophers, including the famous Plato himself.
-
-
The Author, Mary Renault, UNMASKED by her Apollo
- By James on 05-12-15
By: Mary Renault
-
Hand of Isis
- By: Jo Graham
- Narrated by: Gigi Shane
- Length: 16 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charmian is handmaiden to Cleopatra. She is also an oracle, gifted with ancient memories that may hold the key to preserving Egypt. Through blood and fire, war and peace, love and death, she will face a desperate struggle that will remake the future of the world.
-
-
Reader does not know how to pronounce words
- By Gail N. on 07-31-19
By: Jo Graham
-
Ben-Hur
- A Tale of the Christ
- By: Carol Wallace
- Narrated by: Firdous Bamji
- Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Now a major motion picture from MGM and Paramount studios, the story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman whose childhood friend, Messala, betrays him. Accused of trying to murder the new Roman governor in Jerusalem, Judah is sentenced to the galley ships and vows to seek revenge against the Romans and Messala. But a chance encounter with a carpenter from Nazareth sets Judah on a different path.
-
-
Maginificient remake
- By Amazon Customer on 07-23-16
By: Carol Wallace
-
Cleopatra's Daughter
- A Novel
- By: Michelle Moran
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony's vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two---the 10-year-old twins Selene and Alexander---survive the journey.
-
-
A pretty engaging story
- By Annette on 12-23-09
By: Michelle Moran
-
The Seven Wonders
- A Novel of the Ancient World
- By: Steven Saylor
- Narrated by: Stephen Plunkett
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
USA Today hails Steven Saylor as a “modern master of historical fiction.” Rich in intrigue and period detail, his novels set in ancient Rome have garnered acclaim the world over. A prequel to his epic Roma Sub Rosa series, The Seven Wonders follows series star Gordianus the Finder as an 18-year-old traveling the Mediterranean to witness the wonders of that fabled age. At each stop, the young investigator finds a beguiling mystery that pushes his powers of deduction to the limit.
-
-
Interesting History, Not much of a story
- By Mark on 08-10-12
By: Steven Saylor
-
Funeral Games
- A Novel of Alexander the Great
- By: Mary Renault
- Narrated by: Roger May
- Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three, leaving behind an empire that stretched from Greece and Egypt to India.After Alexander's death in 323 B.C. his only direct heirs were two unborn sons and a simpleton half-brother. Every long-simmering faction exploded into the vacuum of power. Wives, distant relatives and generals all vied for the loyalty of the increasingly undisciplined Macedonian army. Most failed and were killed in the attempt.
-
-
Postmortem of an Empire and the Dream that United
- By James on 02-26-15
By: Mary Renault
-
The Mask of Apollo
- By: Mary Renault
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a vivid depiction of Ancient Greece and its legendary heroes, The Mask of Apollo tells the story of Nikeratos, the gifted tragic actor at the centre of political and cultural activity in Athens, 400 B. C. Wherever he goes, Nikeratos carries a golden mask of Apollo, a relic and reminder of an age when the theatre was at the height of its greatness and talent. Only a mascot at first, the mask gradually turns into Nikeratos' conscience as he encounters famous thinkers, actors, and philosophers, including the famous Plato himself.
-
-
The Author, Mary Renault, UNMASKED by her Apollo
- By James on 05-12-15
By: Mary Renault
-
Hand of Isis
- By: Jo Graham
- Narrated by: Gigi Shane
- Length: 16 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charmian is handmaiden to Cleopatra. She is also an oracle, gifted with ancient memories that may hold the key to preserving Egypt. Through blood and fire, war and peace, love and death, she will face a desperate struggle that will remake the future of the world.
-
-
Reader does not know how to pronounce words
- By Gail N. on 07-31-19
By: Jo Graham
-
Ben-Hur
- A Tale of the Christ
- By: Carol Wallace
- Narrated by: Firdous Bamji
- Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Now a major motion picture from MGM and Paramount studios, the story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman whose childhood friend, Messala, betrays him. Accused of trying to murder the new Roman governor in Jerusalem, Judah is sentenced to the galley ships and vows to seek revenge against the Romans and Messala. But a chance encounter with a carpenter from Nazareth sets Judah on a different path.
-
-
Maginificient remake
- By Amazon Customer on 07-23-16
By: Carol Wallace
-
Cleopatra's Daughter
- A Novel
- By: Michelle Moran
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony's vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two---the 10-year-old twins Selene and Alexander---survive the journey.
-
-
A pretty engaging story
- By Annette on 12-23-09
By: Michelle Moran
-
A Shadow in Summer
- Long Price Quartet, Book 1
- By: Daniel Abraham
- Narrated by: Neil Shah
- Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The powerful city-state of Saraykeht is a bastion of peace and culture, a major center of commerce and trade. Its economy depends on the power of the captive spirit Seedless, an and at bound to the poet-sorcerer Heshai for life. Enter the Galts, an empire committed to laying waste to all lands with their ferocious army. Saraykeht has always been too strong for the Galts to attack, but now they see an opportunity.
-
-
REALLY Hard to Rate!
- By Trip Williams on 04-27-15
By: Daniel Abraham
-
Nefer the Silent
- Stone of Light, Volume 1
- By: Christian Jacq
- Narrated by: Ezra Knight
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Deep in the heart of the Upper Egyptian desert lies a forbidden village, where bands of artisans prepare the tombs of the Pharaohs. Guarded by a handful of elite soldiers, the hidden city shelters the most precious of treasures: the Stone of Light, a legendary stone of magical power. When a devious military officer schemes to infiltrate the city and capture the sacred gem, his subversive plot is thwarted by an unlikely hero: a desert wanderer who falls into a maze of treachery and betrayal, desire and danger.
By: Christian Jacq
-
The Lions of Al-Rassan
- By: Guy Gavriel Kay
- Narrated by: Euan Morton
- Length: 19 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite empire has splintered into decadent city-states led by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan - poet, diplomat, soldier - until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever.
-
-
Lots of drama
- By KH on 10-12-12
By: Guy Gavriel Kay
-
Equal of the Sun
- A Novel
- By: Anita Amirrezvani
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Iran in 1576 is a place of peace, wealth, and dazzling beauty. But when the Shah dies without having named an heir, the court is thrown into tumult. Princess Pari, the Shah's daughter and closest adviser, knows more about the inner workings of the state than almost anyone, but the princess's maneuvers to instill order after her father's sudden death incite resentment and dissent. Pari and her trusted servant, a eunuch able to navigate the harem as well as the world beyond the palace walls, are in possession of an incredible tapestry....
-
-
A Woman in a Man's World
- By JGrace on 06-26-13
-
Hero of Rome
- By: Douglas Jackson
- Narrated by: Cornelius Garrett
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman grip on Britain is weakening. Emperor Nero has turned his face away from this far-flung outpost. The Druids are on the rise, spreading seeds of rebellion among the British tribes. Roman cruelty and exploitation has angered their British subjects. The warrior queen Boudicca will lead the tribes to war. Standing against the rising tide of Boudicca's rebellion is Roman Tribune, Gaius Valerius Verrens, Commander of the veteran legions at Colonia.
-
-
Good story, well told and well read
- By Mike Varley on 10-01-14
By: Douglas Jackson
-
The Moon in the Palace
- The Empress of Bright Moon, Book 1
- By: Weina Dai Randel
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There is no easy path for a woman aspiring to power. A concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the emperor's attention. Many paint their faces white and style their hair attractively, hoping to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of seduction to draw his interest. But young Mei knows nothing of these womanly arts, yet she will give the emperor a gift he can never forget.
-
-
One of the most annoying narrations
- By Foodiewife on 01-28-17
By: Weina Dai Randel
-
Ramses
- The Son Of Light
- By: Christian Jacq
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An epic re-creation of the exhilarating and mysterious time when the Sun King ruled Egypt, Ramses, the Son of Light, has become the rage in France. With over two million copies sold, it is the greatest publishing phenomenon to hit the shelves there in 20 years. Rameses is only 14 when his father, the Pharaoh Seti, begins testing his true mettle. Being the younger of two sons, the proud Ramses has a problem with being relegated to second place.
-
-
Teenager drama with little insight into Egyptian culture
- By Consuelo on 10-24-17
By: Christian Jacq
-
The Songs of the Kings
- By: Barry Unsworth
- Narrated by: Andrew Sachs
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A thoroughly modern tale of politics, spin-doctoring, and media manipulation. As the harsh wind holds the Greek fleet trapped in the straits at Aulis, frustration and political impotence turn into a desire for the blood of a young and innocent woman - blood that will appease the gods and allow the troops to set sail. And when Iphigeneia, Agamemnon's beloved daughter, is brought to the coast under false pretences, it looks as if the ships will soon be on their way.
-
-
The politics of power haven't changed.
- By susan on 12-06-12
By: Barry Unsworth
-
Imperial Woman
- The Story of the Last Empress of China
- By: Pearl S. Buck
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Length: 17 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The story of Tzu Hsi is the story of the last empress in China. In this audiobook, Pearl S. Buck recreates the life of one of the most intriguing rules during a time of intense turbulence. Tzu Hsi was born into one of the lowly ranks of the Imperial dynasty. According to custom, she moved to the Forbidden City at the age of 17 to become one of hundreds of concubines. But her singular beauty and powers of manipulation quickly moved her into the position of Second Consort.
-
-
The Last Empress and the Destruction of China
- By MarilynArms on 07-29-13
By: Pearl S. Buck
-
The Autobiography of Henry VIII
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: David Case
- Length: 41 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Margaret George's novel brings into focus the larger-than-life King Henry VIII, monarch of prodigious appetites for wine, women, and song.
-
-
Perfection!
- By Amy M. Walts on 10-20-07
By: Margaret George
-
The Architect's Apprentice
- By: Elif Shafak
- Narrated by: Piter Marek
- Length: 16 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1540, 12-year-old Jahan arrives in Istanbul. As an animal tamer in the sultan's menagerie, he looks after the exceptionally smart elephant Chota and befriends (and falls for) the sultan's beautiful daughter Princess Mihrimah. A palace education leads Jahan to Mimar Sinan, the empire's chief architect, who takes Jahan under his wing as they construct (with Chota's help) some of the most magnificent buildings in history.
-
-
I feel like I should like it more than I do
- By nyog on 04-19-17
By: Elif Shafak
-
Imperium
- A Novel of Ancient Rome
- By: Robert Harris
- Narrated by: Simon Jones
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Tiro, the confidential secretary (and slave) of a Roman senator, opens the door to a terrified stranger on a cold November morning, he sets in motion a chain of events that will eventually propel his master into one of the most suspenseful courtroom dramas in history.
-
-
Engrossing read
- By Everett Leiter on 08-16-07
By: Robert Harris
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The Confessions of Young Nero
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Steve West, Susan Denaker, Katharine Lee McEwan
- Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Unexpected
- By emmygar on 07-12-18
By: Margaret George
-
Mary, Called Magdalene
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 30 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared - and the one commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient honorific "Apostle to the Apostles". Today, Mary continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this renowned woman's voice.
-
-
Good story, but flawed
- By Linda Erlich on 02-08-16
By: Margaret George
-
The Autobiography of Henry VIII
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: David Case
- Length: 41 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Margaret George's novel brings into focus the larger-than-life King Henry VIII, monarch of prodigious appetites for wine, women, and song.
-
-
Perfection!
- By Amy M. Walts on 10-20-07
By: Margaret George
-
The Memoirs of Cleopatra
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Donada Peters
- Length: 49 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This novel allows the unscrupulous and proud Queen of the Nile to recount her own tale. A masterful recreation of history.
-
-
I felt like I was there
- By Michael A. Vasquez on 03-05-07
By: Margaret George
-
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Donada Peters
- Length: 42 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An exhaustively researched novel weaves both historical fact and plausible fiction in bringing the story of Mary Queen of Scots to life.
-
-
Well written, well read
- By Robin on 12-01-09
By: Margaret George
-
Elizabeth I
- A Novel
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 31 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
New York Times best-selling author Margaret George captures history's most enthralling queen-as she confronts rivals to her throne and to her heart. One of today's premier historical novelists, George dazzles here as she tackles her most difficult subject yet: the legendary Elizabeth Tudor, queen of enigma - the Virgin Queen who had many suitors; the victor of the Armada who hated war; the gorgeously attired, jewel-bedecked woman who pinched pennies.
-
-
A different view of Elizabeth
- By Sarda on 05-10-12
By: Margaret George
-
The Confessions of Young Nero
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Steve West, Susan Denaker, Katharine Lee McEwan
- Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Unexpected
- By emmygar on 07-12-18
By: Margaret George
-
Mary, Called Magdalene
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 30 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared - and the one commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient honorific "Apostle to the Apostles". Today, Mary continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this renowned woman's voice.
-
-
Good story, but flawed
- By Linda Erlich on 02-08-16
By: Margaret George
-
The Autobiography of Henry VIII
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: David Case
- Length: 41 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Margaret George's novel brings into focus the larger-than-life King Henry VIII, monarch of prodigious appetites for wine, women, and song.
-
-
Perfection!
- By Amy M. Walts on 10-20-07
By: Margaret George
-
The Memoirs of Cleopatra
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Donada Peters
- Length: 49 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This novel allows the unscrupulous and proud Queen of the Nile to recount her own tale. A masterful recreation of history.
-
-
I felt like I was there
- By Michael A. Vasquez on 03-05-07
By: Margaret George
-
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Donada Peters
- Length: 42 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An exhaustively researched novel weaves both historical fact and plausible fiction in bringing the story of Mary Queen of Scots to life.
-
-
Well written, well read
- By Robin on 12-01-09
By: Margaret George
-
Elizabeth I
- A Novel
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 31 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
New York Times best-selling author Margaret George captures history's most enthralling queen-as she confronts rivals to her throne and to her heart. One of today's premier historical novelists, George dazzles here as she tackles her most difficult subject yet: the legendary Elizabeth Tudor, queen of enigma - the Virgin Queen who had many suitors; the victor of the Armada who hated war; the gorgeously attired, jewel-bedecked woman who pinched pennies.
-
-
A different view of Elizabeth
- By Sarda on 05-10-12
By: Margaret George
What listeners say about The Splendor Before the Dark
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- avid reader
- 06-16-19
Excellent!
Full of drama and history, this is a stunning book. Margaret George is a wonderful author, and the narrators are FABULOUS
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Tiffany Rankin
- 05-16-20
Great Escapist Literature
The Nero within these pages made me shed a tear or two. Whether or not the author's depiction is close to reality probably will never be known. However, the author showed a universal truth; for every 'monster's there is someone who loves him. Margaret George elevates historical fiction so brilliantly that it makes a reader weep for a man herald as the anti-christ. Amazing read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Liz
- 03-20-22
I never knew!
I love history and I love learning from it. But I like it to be interesting! These two novels this is the second are incredibly interesting. Margaret George brings Nero to life. I have heard the rumors of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. This puts a logical explanation to it. This book is worth reading by anyone who loves historical fiction.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- dolores ballerina
- 09-23-23
So good
Margaret George is the master at dropping one into the world of historical people and like Henry and Mary and Cleopatra and Helen she too k o is this out of the park
Fantastic readers too
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sydney
- 02-20-19
Awesome narration - enjoyed the characterizations,
What a dramatic life; I think Nero himself would be pleased! Poppaea's connections with Pompeii and the House of the Menander made me wonder if the famous "portrait" might have caught Nero's attention on a visit??
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Catherine Weikert
- 11-08-20
Great sequel!
Another great read by one of my favorite authors. I’d read The Confessions of Young Nero first. I was anxious to see how his life continued. Although reading Confessions first isn’t really necessary, I highly recommend it so the reader can have a better understanding of his childhood and the people and events that take him into adulthood. Narration is very good!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Eliza
- 02-20-19
I love this book! such a great retelling
this is such a great retelling if a very misunderstood man who may have been eccentric, but was definitely ahead of his time
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jo Stone
- 06-18-23
Intriguing
As usual Margret George delivers a compelling story that is well written. Great listen for history buffs.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Fylynne
- 04-19-20
Not So Splendid for Nero
This book was recommended on The View so I thought I would take a chance. I'm glad I did. I learned so much about the workings of the Roman Empire. I see that politics have not changed! Nero was a tortured soul in so many areas of his life. He had his mother assassinated. He survived conspiracies to overthrow his government. He accidentally killed his pregnant wife. There was so much more that explained to me about the fall of the Roman Empire. I really enjoyed the end of the book where the author told about her research for the story. This is a good book for people interested in the history of the Roman Empire.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Megan D
- 12-12-22
A great book, don't be turned off by the subject!
This story, and the first book about his youth, beautifully written and researched, illustrates how a sensitive artistic person may have been influenced and molded by the people around him, many of whom would do anything to achieve power . It is a fascinating look into this ancient dynasty's intrigues and its accomplishments as well.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!