The book covers the scandalous four-year reign of (Elagabalus), a Syrian teenager who became the absolute ruler of Rome in 218 AD. Historian Harry Sidebottom moves past the typical sensationalism to give readers a well-researched, non-academic look at the politics and structure of the Roman Empire at its halfway point. 💡 Key Discussion Points
: A concise and witty analysis of the book penned by Bijan Omrani in the Literary Review . Bijan Omrani - Size was Everything to Him - Literary Review TheMadEmperorepub
: Documents how his highly unconventional lifestyle, gender fluidity, and disregard for Roman traditions managed to systematically offend the army, the Senate, and the general populace. The book covers the scandalous four-year reign of
: Offers a highly engaging breakdown of how the book reads like a novel while serving as an exceptional reference piece Historical Novels Society . Bijan Omrani - Size was Everything to Him
If you want to read focused articles and academic reviews analyzing the book and the historical emperor, check out these sources:
: For a more scholarly focus, you can read the academic critique in the Journal of Classics Teaching .
: Shows a 14-year-old thrust into supreme power, attempting to implement a highly exotic family religion centered on a giant black rock called Elagabal.