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More than two thousand years ago, one of history's most infamous figures was born. Professor Mary Beard embarks on an investigation into the life and times of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known to us as Caligula. Now regarded as Rome's most erratic tyrant, the stories surrounding him are among the most extraordinary of all Roman emperors. Mary pieces together the evidence, placing Caligula back into the context of his time, revealing a shocking tale of murder, intrigue, and dynastic power struggles. Most importantly, she explains why Caligula ultimately earned such an apparently irredeemable reputation. In doing so, she not only presents a more intriguing portrait of the monster but also a more intriguing portrait of the man.