Memoirs of Hadrian

Rating:
Summary: Obscure gem
Review: This book is well-written, well-translated, well-informed, and a wellspring of insight into human nature. Written as a series of lengthy letters to Marcus Aurelius from Emperor Hadrian, it reads as an extraordinary historical narrative. At the same time, it builds a complex and convincing portrait of a fascinating character and bestows upon the reader a wealth of notable and quotable thoughts on human nature, human relations, politics, leadership, and nature.
Why and how Ms. Yourcenar wrote this book is a bit of a mystery to me, but I'm glad she did and glad I discovered it. I'll undoubtedly come back to read it again.

Rating:
Summary: Obscure gem
Review: This book is well-written, well-translated, well-informed, and a wellspring of insight into human nature. Written as a series of lengthy letters to Marcus Aurelius from Emperor Hadrian, it reads as an extraordinary historical narrative. At the same time, it builds a complex and convincing portrait of a fascinating character and bestows upon the reader a wealth of notable and quotable thoughts on human nature, human relations, politics, leadership, and nature.
Why and how Ms. Yourcenar wrote this book is a bit of a mystery to me, but I'm glad she did and glad I discovered it. I'll undoubtedly come back to read it again.

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant work
Review: Through research i can only fathom, Yourcenar attempts to get into Hadian's brain. And while it is impossible to really understand what anyone (especially someone dead for 2000 years) thinks, she makes logical assumptions in her readable attempt.

One thing, the reviewers, and more disturbingly the blurb on the book's back got the name of "Mark" wrong. The letter is to Marcus Antoninus (who was called, as emperor, Antoninus Pius due to his devotion to Hadrian's memory) not to Marcus Aurelius.

It's strange that no one has pointed this out the publisher yet.

Rating:
Summary: Within You, Without You
Review: Yourcenar is interested in sensibility and so here you get the Roman world as experienced through the eyes of Hadrian. Historical fiction at its most personal. When we think of Rome we usually think in epic form but this is a very lyrical book and Hadrian really seems to posses qualities which are reminiscent of that slightly older culture Greece. I've never read anything else about Hadrian so I don't know how true to life this account is but however real or imagined this Hadrian is Yourcenar pulls this off unbelievably well. Lives of the Ceasars this isn't but it is something rare. In examining this life so completely she allows us along with her to inhabit this other existence and ultimately we realize better what it is like to truly inhabit our own.