BEWARE OF CAESAR by Vincent Sheean. 244 pages. Random House. $4.95.
The Roman philosopher Seneca came to a sad end. Spurred by patriotism, he came out of exile to tutor Emperor Claudius' unstable stepson Nero and was rewarded for his pains several years later when his onetime student ordered him to commit suicide. At least Nero recognized greatness; ordinary mortals died by torture when a shadow crossed the Emperor's demented brain. In this threadbare, novelistic pastiche, Vincent Sheean treats Seneca far worse. Though the historical Seneca was second only to Cicero as an exponent...
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