Caligula

Suetonius and I go way back. In Latin class, we were forced to watch these less than inspiring documentaries on Roman Emperors that were filled with quotes from, among others: Suetonius. As such, I was looking forward to reading this Little Black Classic. Also, because if there ever was a mad man in power, it has to be Caligula, who allegedly planned to make his horse a consul in order to ridicule the senate (which would be one of the least cruel things he did).

It made an interesting read. It is of course written quite some time after his death and as such it is flavored in the politics of that time, but it is absolutely clear how cruel the man was and how unfit a ruler.