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siria 's review for:
Memoirs of Hadrian
by Marguerite Yourcenar
I adored this book, really and truly. Yourcenar’s prose, even in translation, is a triumph. The novel takes the form of a letter written by Hadrian to his heir presumptive, the young Marcus Aurelius; and in it, she really manages to capture some of the stately elegance of which Latin is capable, even though she was writing in another language. Her prose flows beautifully; it’s such a joy to read.
For a biographical novel concerned with the life – and the leaving of it – by a Roman emperor, she never really goes into too much detail on the facts of his reign, or the people by whom he was surrounded. Yourcenar is much more concerned with how Hadrian sees the world around him, his philosophy of life, and the function which he sees the empire as having. For all that some of his actions would seem reprehensible, and some of his ideas mistaken, to a modern reader, I always found myself sympathising with him because Yourcenar conveyed his world view so well. There is a very real sense of inhabiting the (mental) world of ancient Rome for a time when reading this.
Such a brilliant psychological study, and a very persuasive and plausible recreation of what Hadrian might have been like as a man. Highly recommended.
For a biographical novel concerned with the life – and the leaving of it – by a Roman emperor, she never really goes into too much detail on the facts of his reign, or the people by whom he was surrounded. Yourcenar is much more concerned with how Hadrian sees the world around him, his philosophy of life, and the function which he sees the empire as having. For all that some of his actions would seem reprehensible, and some of his ideas mistaken, to a modern reader, I always found myself sympathising with him because Yourcenar conveyed his world view so well. There is a very real sense of inhabiting the (mental) world of ancient Rome for a time when reading this.
Such a brilliant psychological study, and a very persuasive and plausible recreation of what Hadrian might have been like as a man. Highly recommended.