Wit and the Writing of History: The Rhetoric of Historiography in Imperial Rome

absurdity actual amusing ancient anecdotes Annals antithetic appearance Augustus authority become bring Calig Caligula called Claudius close comes connection course create crimes criticism deal death discussion effect emperor epigram epigrammatic equally especially example executed expectation expression face fact false fear force formal genuine hand happens Hist historians historiography honor imperial incongruity intention interest joke kind language larger live logic London marks matter meaning moral natural Nero Nero's norms official omens ordinary pattern peace perhaps political possible Principate reality reason remark rhetorical Roman Rome seems senate Seneca sense serious similar simply situation social society sort speak specifically statement story style Suetonius suggests Tacitus taken talk technique things thought Tiberius tion true truth turn unmasking values vice victims violation virtue Vitellius witty