Praise for the series 'Carefully researched, vivid, and passionately told, this is the story of a fascinating new Nero' - Madeline Miller 'Gripping' – Barbara Taylor Bradford 'A refreshing and original interpretation of Rome's infamous ruler' – Sunday Express From New York Times bestselling author Margaret George, Emperor Nero: The Splendour Before The Dark is the stunning conclusion to Nero’s story. With the beautiful and cunning Poppaea at his side, Nero Augustus commands the Roman Empire, ushering in an unprecedented era of artistic and cultural splendour. Although he has yet to produce an heir, his power is absolute. But in the tenth year of his reign, a terrifying prophecy comes to pass and a fire engulfs Rome, reducing entire swaths of the city to rubble. Rumours 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