5.0
emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

First read 09/2022, reread 06/2024

Tempting to name this as the high water mark of historical fiction, but I don't read enough of the stuff to say that without making a fool of myself.

In exquisite prose, Yourcenar seems to enjoy unrestricted access to the Hadrian of the Second Century: his triumphs and defeats, his loves and his losses, his grief and impending death.

What praise can I offer that has not already been given?