Reviews

Es increíble el trabajo de la autora, de recopilación histórica, los años de trabajo para lograr ponerse en el cuerpo/mente de Adriano y contar su historia en primera persona.. una genia✨

En cuanto a mi propia experiencia con el libro, sólo agregaría una mini crítica y es que, aunque me encantó cómo está escrito.. igual se torna un poco tedioso a ratos que tooooodo el libro esté escrito en primera persona. Aún así me gustó mucho.

lauragill's review against another edition

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5.0

I have been looking forward to reading this novel for a long time. When I started reading, however, I found it dry and uninteresting, and wondering what about the text inspired so many readers to call it a masterpiece.

Perseverance taught me a lesson. The beginning, which forms the start of a letter the dying Hadrian composes to the young Marcus Aurelius, outlines Hadrian's personal philosophy. Nothing actually happens for about 25-30 pages. When he starts to tell his life's story, though, the action picks up, and one starts visualizing scenes from Hadrian's youth in a sun-soaked Spanish village to his military experience on the cold Germanic frontier, where he fantasizes about riding east across the steppes and never looking back. Trajan and his empress Plotina appear, fleshed out and engaging characters.

But is Hadrian a reliable narrator? What is Marcus Aurelius thinking as he reads this letter? From historical sources, we know that he had no personal affection for Hadrian and never thanked him in the first book of his Meditations; I can easily imagine him crumpling up this letter and dropping it down a privy. Because Hadrian does go on ad nauseum about his philosophy on this and that and the other, and everything he's accomplished, and yes, he had to execute some political rivals and he really regretted that, and the things he's had to do in Judaea because of such obstinate, obtusely single minded Zealots like Akiba and Bar-Kochba, but he had to do it for the Empire, etc.

I did not start to care about Hadrian's viewpoint until the Saeculum Aureum (Age of Gold) chapter dealing with his relationship with Antinous. At times, he waxes sentimental, but as tragedy strikes and he's left to deal with the aftermath, Hadrian's regret strikes a heartfelt chord of self-recrimination and examination. Yourcenar is at her best here, and in the chapters that follow. I lost my skepticism overall of Hadrian as narrator, and even began to understand his philosophizing as his death approached.

At some point, I may have to return and clarify or add to this review, because I'm still turning the text over in my mind. I admit, I may need to go back and reread the book; a second reading of those earlier, slower bits may make more sense now.

felravenn's review against another edition

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It's not the book, it's my currently pea-sized brain. Not the right time for this story but I will revisit it.

books_doodles's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced

5.0

For a long time I thought this book was a collection of autobiographical reflections by the Roman Emperor Hadrian himself. Something like “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius. It was only about a year ago that I realized it was a fictional work.

Something that fascinated me was the fact that this work almost never saw the light of day.

Marguerite conceived her first writing project between 1924 and 1929, in which she wrote several versions of a narrative in which the main character was Antinous – a lover of Hadrian. The manuscript was rejected and it was only 5 years later that she returned to the project, with the theme being taken up and abandoned several times between 1934 and 1937. In this new version, Hadrian becomes the central focus.

In 1939, with the beginning of the Second World War, the author moved to the USA, leaving the manuscript and notes in Europe. Between 1939 and 1948 the project was abandoned again.

Finally, a suitcase with documents is sent to her from Switzerland. When she unfolds a yellowed sheet she reads “My Dear Marcus”, and the work begins again.

Marguerite claims that she tried to redo from the inside what 19th century archaeologists did from the outside.

This work thus takes the form of a long letter that Hadrian, feeling the proximity of death, addressed to his successor Marcus Aurelius, with the intention of contributing to his formation.

This is the sharing of an autobiographical testimony, a political and moral testament; reflections on the circumstances that defined his life.

This work, for me, was a pleasure as a reading experience. Not because I knew the life of Emperor Hadrian or the history of the Roman Empire, but because of the beauty of the author's writing. How she, wearing Hadrian's shoes, narrates and weaves reflections in his voice.

I can only imagine the research work done by the author! The result is a very unique writing exercise.

In addition to wanting to read more by the author, Marguerite also encouraged me to want to study the history of the Roman Empire. And I have a book of interviews in view to learn more about the author’s writing process.

albertotobias's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

flavia31's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

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