Domina: The Women Who Made Imperial Rome

by Guy de la Bedoyere Narrated by Julian Elfer

Overview

A captivating popular history that shines a light on the notorious Julio-Claudian women who forged an empire



Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero-these are the names history associates with the early Roman Empire. Yet, not a single one of these emperors was the blood son of his predecessor. In this captivating history, a prominent scholar of the era documents the Julio-Claudian women whose bloodline, ambition, and ruthlessness made it possible for the emperors' line to continue.



Eminent scholar Guy de la Bédoyère, author of Praetorian, asserts that the women behind the scenes-including Livia, Octavia, and the elder and younger Agrippina-were the true backbone of the dynasty. De la Bédoyère draws on the accounts of ancient Roman historians to revisit a familiar time from a completely fresh vantage point. Anyone who enjoys I, Claudius will be fascinated by this study of dynastic power and gender interplay in ancient Rome.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Expertly narrated by Julian Elfer . . . an inherently fascinating and impressively presented study of dynastic power and gender interplay in ancient Rome." -Midwest Book Review

Library Journal - Audio

05/01/2019

This narrative history of the early Roman Empire takes seriously the role women played in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. De la Bédoyère (Praetorian: The Rise and Fall of Rome's Imperial Bodyguard) shines a light on the women caught in the shadows of towering male figures such as Augustus, Tiberius, and Nero. In an era during which women were considered dangerous and subversive forces, Livia, Octavia, Agrippina, and others skillfully navigated a tangled web of power to help guide the empire. Narrator Julian Elfer strikes the right chord for Roman elites. Like colossal marble statues, the men of Rome still loom large here. Yet this work does provide a valuable corrective to these domineering male characters as de la Bédoyère brings color and texture to many of the lesser-known personae of ancient Rome. VERDICT Though written for general consumption, this work will be of value to academics as well.—Denis Frias, Mississauga Lib. Syst., Ont.

JUNE 2019 - AudioFile

Julian Elfer brings a fine voice, a likable British accent, skill, and obvious intelligence to his performance of a book about the often sensational role of women in two of the Roman Empire’s wildly dysfunctional dynasties. That sounds promising yet fails to satisfy. Early in the book, de la Bédoyère follows themes rather than sequence, jumping confusingly around in history—then plunges into the intensely complex Julio-Claudian dynasty, a snake pit of similar, even identical, names. Elfer narrates clearly (usually) but too quickly, especially for this material. His manner and occasional small misreadings give the impression of someone trying to get through the material rather than engage with it. There is much to learn here, and things to like, but also much cause for listener frustration. W.M. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171159320
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	12/18/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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