Page 92 - All About History - Issue 70-18

REVIEWS

The books, TV shows and films causing a stir in the history world this month

AGRIPPINA Uncover the many most
sides
of
Ancient
Rome’s

Author Emma Southon Publisher Unbound Price £12 Released Out now extraordinary woman

ou’ve probably never read a history book Roman women generally weren’t thought of of humour (like the pithy dedication “To all my
like this before. Front and centre in as having their own agency – in fact, even today Difficult Aunts”) and it honestly just makes it a
Agrippina: Empress, Exile, Hustler, Whore they’re usually referred to as the wives, mothers joy to read.
is someone who author Emma Southon or sisters of others. Agrippina the Younger, as Agrippina the Younger is a tricky subject to
Ycalls “the most extraordinary woman in the sister, niece, wife and mother of Roman tackle. All of the evidence we have about her, as
the Roman world”, but the way in which her emperors, was certainly no exception. When Southon explains, is through what people wrote
biography is told is something else entirely. y ally down of her interactions with men. That’s all
g
g p y
isn’t at the forefront of we have – and why the book’s subhead exhibits
your mind. how she’s been viewed as a result:
Even when “Weaves empress, exile, hustler, whore.
you think a tapestry In fact, the book itself is split
of Roman into five chapters (daughter, sister,
women, of life in niece, wife and mother) to show
your mind Ancient her in her relationships with family
probably members. But despite that, Southon
wanders Rome – paints the picture of a woman in
to Livia, especially her own right. Agrippina was a
Lucretia or woman who made her own life in
Messalina. that a male-dominated society (and it
But was because of her determination
A miserable to be seen as an equal that she was
Agrippina
the Younger life women murdered by her own son).
was a It’s hard to put down so having
trailblazer, faced” the standard history-book plates is
and only really an afterthought.
Southon is on a mission Although the book seems to be aimed at
to show you why. readers in their 20s or 30s with a smattering of
From the very pop culture references, nothing is dumbed down.
first page, you’ll be Sources are evaluated, everything is explained in
enthralled in the tale. context and Southon has the air of someone who
The very first line knows exactly what they’re talking about.
of the introduction What’s especially great about Agrippina is
sets the tone, “This Southon’s obvious deep interest in her central
is the story of an figure and she knew that those she would be
extraordinary woman.” sharing the story with would be as interested as
From there, Southon her. The book was published through Unbound,
weaves a tapestry a company that makes sure books are funded
of life in Ancient directly by those who would want to buy the
Rome – especially that finished product. Without this website, it’s
somewhat miserable unlikely that anything like this would have gone
life women faced – and to print and honestly, that really would have
condenses the history been a shame.
of the nation from A refreshing take on arguably
kingdom to empire one of the greatest Roman
into an entertaining women to have lived, it’s a
seven pages. Southon must-read book for anyone Forthright,
Refreshing,
approaches her writing who is interested in the Vivacious
with an obvious sense ancient world. KM

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