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The Splendor Before the Dark
- A Novel of the Emperor Nero
- Narrated by: Steve West, Katharine Lee McEwan, Susan Denaker
- Length: 21 hrs and 42 mins
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Publisher's summary
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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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....
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A Woman in a Man's World
- By JGrace on 06-26-13
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Hero of Rome
- By: Douglas Jackson
- Narrated by: Cornelius Garrett
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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Good story, well told and well read
- By Mike Varley on 10-01-14
By: Douglas Jackson
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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
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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.
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One of the most annoying narrations
- By Foodiewife on 01-28-17
By: Weina Dai Randel
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Ramses
- The Son Of Light
- By: Christian Jacq
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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Teenager drama with little insight into Egyptian culture
- By Consuelo on 10-24-17
By: Christian Jacq
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The Songs of the Kings
- By: Barry Unsworth
- Narrated by: Andrew Sachs
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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The politics of power haven't changed.
- By susan on 12-06-12
By: Barry Unsworth
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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
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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.
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The Last Empress and the Destruction of China
- By MarilynArms on 07-29-13
By: Pearl S. Buck
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The Autobiography of Henry VIII
- By: Margaret George
- Narrated by: David Case
- Length: 41 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Margaret George's novel brings into focus the larger-than-life King Henry VIII, monarch of prodigious appetites for wine, women, and song.
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Perfection!
- By Amy M. Walts on 10-20-07
By: Margaret George
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The Architect's Apprentice
- By: Elif Shafak
- Narrated by: Piter Marek
- Length: 16 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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I feel like I should like it more than I do
- By nyog on 04-19-17
By: Elif Shafak
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Children of Earth and Sky
- By: Guy Gavriel Kay
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 19 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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From the small coastal town of Senjan, notorious for its pirates, a young woman sets out to find vengeance for her lost family. That same spring, from the wealthy city-state of Seressa, famous for its canals and lagoon, come two very different people: a young artist traveling to the dangerous east to paint the grand khalif at his request - and possibly to do more - and a fiercely intelligent, angry woman posing as a doctor's wife but sent by Seressa as a spy.
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Deep Echoes of the Sarantine Mosaic
- By Sarah on 05-13-16
By: Guy Gavriel Kay
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I felt like I was there
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Well written, well read
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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.
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A Very Different Take Than Homer
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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.
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Good story, but flawed
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Perfection!
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I felt like I was there
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An exhaustively researched novel weaves both historical fact and plausible fiction in bringing the story of Mary Queen of Scots to life.
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Well written, well read
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What listeners say about The Splendor Before the Dark
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- 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
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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.
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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.
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- 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
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- 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??
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- 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!
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- 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
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- Jo Stone
- 06-18-23
Intriguing
As usual Margret George delivers a compelling story that is well written. Great listen for history buffs.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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