A Review By Keith Smith

The twentieth century has been called ‘the American Century’. Not since the days of the Roman emperors has there been such a succession of rulers holding the fate of the world in their hands. Now, award-winning biographer Nigel Hamilton gives us the lives of the twelve men, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush, who presided over America’s imperial fortunes – the good, the bad and the truly awful. How did these American Caesars reach the White House? What were the challenges they faced when they got there and how did they meet them? And who were these men in their private lives? Compulsively readable, packed with unforgettable characters as well as stories, lessons and revelations, “American Caears” is essential reading.

I really enjoyed reading this update as it were of  ‘The Twelve Caesars’ by Suetonius. Each essay on one of the Presidents is divided into The Road To The White House, The White House, and Private Life and very well this works too. The essays themselves are rich with detail and with background and observations that continually intrigue and bring to light things which I certainly did not know. Your views change, and one of the more startling conclusions you might draw is how little in control of things most of the Presidents actually were. Frightening stuff.