Emperor Hadrian, near death, writes a long letter to his young successor, Marcus Aurelius, describing his life. He recalls his youth in Spain, his rise through the army, his travels around the Roman Empire, the building of Hadrian's Wall, his love for the young Antinous and the boy's death, and the political choices of his reign. Yourcenar writes in the first person, based on years of research, so that Hadrian is both a Roman emperor and a modern thinking person.
It suits readers who like historical fiction as meditation, with a serious and lyrical voice. It is for those who want to understand power, ageing and the end of an era through one man's reflections.
Deep, inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2004
- Publisher
- Sudamericana
- ISBN
- 9789871138692
- Language
- ES
