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Classic Chats: Tom Holland

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Feb 26, 2026

Guest

Tom Holland

Tom Holland, historian and author famed for narrative histories of Rome and translator of Suetonius. He discusses why Suetonius’ gossip-rich approach speaks to today. He recounts early Roman fascinations from Asterix to Catullus. He explains his translation process and how storytelling shapes portrayals of emperors, power and succession.

56:26

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INSIGHT

Domestic Culture Is Key To Understanding Rule

Cultural history can be as revealing as political history because domestic practices illuminate beliefs about rulers.
Mary Beard and Tom Holland compare Suetonius to Tacitus to show modern scholarship now values these cultural anchors of power.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Writing A Suetonian Parody Of Trump

Tom wrote a parody Life of Donald Trump in the Times in Suetonian style to show how gossip informs modern political narrative.
Legal concerns forced him to replace an allegation with asterisks, echoing Victorian school editions of Suetonius.

insights

INSIGHT

Gossip Shows How Authority Fails

Suetonius offers vivid, insider portraits of rulers losing power that explain authority's collapse.
Holland highlights Nero calling servants who don't come, showing the visual reality of an emperor's loss of command.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Why Tom chose to translate Suetonius

03:58 • 2min

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Suetonius as cultural historian

06:22 • 4min

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Gossip, power and modern parallels

09:54 • 5min

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Suetonius' palace insight and dying rulers

14:41 • 5min

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Dynasty, succession and gaps in the Lives

19:40 • 4min

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Tom's translation process and challenges

23:33 • 2min

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Early influences: Asterix and the Roman army

25:06 • 4min

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Catullus, Clodia and teenage obsessions

29:30 • 3min

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From aspiring novelist to historian

32:01 • 8min

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Narrative craft: making Rome a character

39:41 • 3min

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Representing violence and moral perspectives

42:36 • 4min

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Classics education and accessibility

46:38 • 5min

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Latin, Virgil and lifelong reading

• Mentioned in 14 episodes

I, Claudius

Robert Graves

Written in 1934, 'I, Claudius' is a historical novel by Robert Graves that follows the life of Roman Emperor Claudius. The narrative is presented as Claudius' autobiography, detailing the history of the Julio-Claudian dynasty from Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC to Caligula's assassination in AD 41. The book includes the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula, and is known for its historical accuracy and fictionalized accounts drawn from Roman historians like Suetonius and Tacitus. Claudius, portrayed as a historian and scholar, documents the intrigues, betrayals, and violence within the imperial family, while also reflecting on his own survival and eventual rise to the throne.

#6438

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

Persian Fire

The First World Empire and the Battle for the West

Tom Holland

Persian Fire by Tom Holland is a captivating historical narrative that delves into the rise of the Persian Empire and its conflicts with the Greek city-states. The book provides a gripping account of the Greco-Persian Wars, highlighting pivotal battles like Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis. It offers a fresh perspective on this ancient conflict and its enduring significance in shaping Western civilization.

#860

• Mentioned in 41 episodes

Histories

Herodotus

The Histories by Herodotus is a foundational work in Western historical literature. It chronicles the Greco-Persian Wars (499–479 BCE) and provides a comprehensive background on the rise and organization of the Persian Empire. The work is divided into nine books, each named after one of the Muses. Herodotus describes the conflicts between the Greeks and Persians, including key battles such as Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea, and Mycale. He also delves into the cultural, ethnographical, geographical, and historiographical aspects of the civilizations involved, offering a rich tapestry of historical and mythological narratives. Despite some criticisms for including legendary accounts, much of Herodotus's work has been validated by modern historians and archaeologists.

#50926

The Roman Army (by Connolly) - specific battle illustration reference

Peter Connolly

Peter Connolly's illustrated works on the Roman Army bring ancient battles and military life to life through carefully researched drawings and accessible text. The depiction of the siege of Alesia, among other scenes, provides an evocative visual entry point for readers to understand Roman military engineering and tactics. Connolly's combination of scholarship and artistic skill has made his books enduring resources for students and enthusiasts. They are particularly effective at translating archaeological and textual evidence into engaging reconstructions. As such, they have inspired many readers' lifelong interest in ancient history and warfare.

#45387

Catullus

Gaius Valerius Catullus

The poems of Catullus are a compendium of intensely personal lyric verse from the late Roman Republic, notable for their frankness, wit, and emotional range. Addressing themes from erotic love—especially poems to 'Lesbia'—to invective, mourning, and conviviality, Catullus offers vivid portraits of elite Roman social life. His work influenced later Latin poetry and provides modern readers with insight into the private and public sensibilities of his era. Translations and selections have made Catullus widely read in schools and universities, often serving as an entry point to Roman literature. The poet's blend of intimate voice and sharp social observation continues to resonate with contemporary readers.

#2364

• Mentioned in 19 episodes

Rubicon

J. S. Dewes

In *Rubicon*, Sergeant Adrienne Valero is a soldier who has been resurrected nearly a hundred times using advanced technology called 'rezoning. ' This process allows her to fight in a war against the Mechans, intelligent machines controlled by a hivemind. After her 96th resurrection, Valero is transferred to an elite special forces unit and equipped with a virtual intelligence implant named Rubicon. As Rubicon evolves into a sentient being, Valero and her new squad must undertake increasingly dangerous missions. The novel explores themes of trauma, camaraderie, and the psychological impact of repeated deaths and resurrections, set against a backdrop of a desperate war where humanity's survival is at stake.

#2506

• Mentioned in 18 episodes

The Lives of the Twelve Caesars

Suetonius

This work, written in AD 121, is a comprehensive biographical account of the Roman emperors from Julius Caesar to Domitian. Suetonius provides detailed narratives of their lives, including their personal habits, political actions, and the moral lessons that can be drawn from their reigns. The book is notable for its candid and often unflattering portrayal of these powerful men, highlighting the corrupting influence of absolute power and the moral decadence that accompanied the decline of the Roman Empire.

#2894

• Mentioned in 16 episodes

Pax

The Peace of Aristophanes, acted at Athens at the Great Dionysia, B.C. 421; the Greek text rev., with a translation into corresponding metres, introduction and commentary

Aristophanes

In 'Peace,' Aristophanes tells the story of Trygaeus, a farmer who flies to heaven on a dung beetle to rescue the goddess Peace, who has been imprisoned by the gods. The play celebrates the return of peace to Greece after years of war, highlighting both the joys and challenges of this new era. It was first performed in 421 BCE, shortly before the Peace of Nicias.

Mary and Charlotte talk to Tom Holland, co-host of the Rest is History. As well as being a podcasting megastar, Tom is a brilliant historian of Ancient Rome. His books include Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic, Pax: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age and his recent translation of Suetonius’ The Lives of the Caesars.

In the first half of this episode, Tom talks about why Suetonius, with his interest in court gossip and trivia, is the historian for the current age. In the second half, he talks about his lifelong fascination with the Romans - from discovering the Asterix books as a boy, the poetry of Catullus as a teenager, and how writing a series of novels about vampires led him to write Rubicon.

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