Dying Every Day

Seneca at the Court of Nero

By: James S. Romm

Narrated by: Paul Woodson

James Romm seamlessly weaves together the life and written words, the moral struggles, political intrigue, and bloody vengeance that enmeshed Seneca the Younger in the twisted imperial family and the perverse, paranoid regime of Emperor Nero, despot and madman.

Romm writes that Seneca watched over Nero as teacher, moral guide, and surrogate father, and, at 17, when Nero abruptly ascended to become emperor of Rome, Seneca became, with Nero, the ruler of the Roman Empire. We see how Seneca was able to control his young student, how, under Seneca's influence, Nero ruled with intelligence and moderation, banned capital punishment, reduced taxes, gave slaves the right to file complaints against their owners, pardoned prisoners arrested for sedition. But with time, as Nero grew vain and disillusioned, Seneca was unable to hold sway over the emperor, and between Nero's mother, Agrippina, and Nero's father, how long could the young Nero have been contained?

Dying Every Day is a portrait of Seneca's moral struggle in the midst of madness and excess. As Nero's adviser, Seneca was presented with a more complex set of choices, as the only man capable of summoning the better aspect of Nero's nature, yet, remaining at Nero's side and colluding in the evil regime he created.

©2014 James Romm (P)2021 Tantor

Outstanding

I like the narrative because when it was assuming it let the listener understand the facts of the why the assumed was made. A good book very informative.

Exactly what I wanted from this book

It gives a good look into the life and times of Seneca, touching on some of his philosophy, and how and when he used it or ignored it, in his own life.
Will read again.

pleasant narration, engaging characters, enriching

Delightful historial-psychological storytelling about the major dramatis personae in Seneca's Rome. Author J. Romm interweaves documented facts with accessible, plausible, human character studies. Unintrusive flowing narration by Paul Woodson = so smooth and clear that I listened twice!

Romm traces Lucius Annaeus Seneca from his affluent Córdoba birth, through his legendary literary career, into his governance duties as Nero's tutor/co-ruler. The story unfolds his lifelong asthma, moral philosophy and its hypocrisies, banishment and restoration, oligarch status, usurious loan-making to Britannia, and his forced suicide, age-68.

Romm paints an understandable - though terrifying - picture of violent, sadistic, paranoid, pleasure-junkie Nero. He also develops insightful portraits of Nero's ambitious, stop-at-nothing "momager" Agrippina [murdered], teenage wife-1 Octavia [murdered] wife-2 beloved Poppaea [murdered], father-figure Praetorian tutor Burrus, and Seneca's enduring wife, Paulina - inter multa alia. Recommended for Seneca fans!

Best book on Seneca I’ve read

Well, written, and very interesting, so easy to listen to and so informative Highly recommend for an a fan of Seneca

Great book…A must read!!

Great book! Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!! Just shows you a great view of Senacca!