History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

A Rome of One’s Own: The Forgotten Women of the Roman Empire  Author: Emma Southon Genre: History, Nonfiction, Biography  Publisher: Abrams Press Publication Date: 2023 Pages: 415 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review  Synopsis: This wildly entertaining new history of Rome uses the lives of 21 women to upend our understanding of the ancient world, from the acclaimed author of A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum .       This is a history of women who caused outrage, led armies in rebellion, wrote poetry; who lived independently or under the thumb of emperors. Told with humor and verve as well as a deep scholarly background, A Rome of One’s Own highlights women overlooked and misunderstood, and through them offers a fascinating and groundbreaking chronicle of the ancient world.        The history of Rome has long been narrow and one-sided, essentially a history of “the Doing ...

  Cleopatra’s Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen Author: Jane Draycott Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography Publisher: Liveright Release Date: 2023 Pages: 336 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: The first modern biography of one of the most influential yet long-neglected rulers of the ancient world: Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Antony and Cleopatra.      As the only daughter of Roman Triumvir Marc Antony and Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII, Cleopatra Selene was expected to uphold traditional feminine virtues; to marry well and bear sons; and to legitimize and strengthen her parents’ rule. Yet with their parents’ deaths by suicide, the princess and her brothers found themselves the inheritors of Egypt, a claim that placed them squarely in the warpath of the Roman emperor.      “Supported by a feast of visual and literary references” (Caroline Lawrence), Cleopatra’s Daughter reimagines t...

  Priestess of Avalon (Avalon #4) Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson  Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Ace Release Date: 2008 Pages: 418 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: In the long-awaited return to Avalon by the beloved author of The Mists of Avalon and her collaborator, bestselling author Diana L. Paxson, Marion Zimmer Bradley fuses myth, magic and romance in a spectacular unfolding of one woman's role in the making of history and spirit...        My Review: Priestess of Avalon is the prequel to The Mists of Avalon . It follows the life of Helena Augusta, the mother of Emperor Constantine. In Priestess of Avalon , Helena is a British princess called Eilan. She trains to be a priestess of Avalon. Eilan eventually learns that she is destined to give birth to a child who will change the world. Therefore, Eilan walks a journey that no priestess of Avalon has ever walked before.      Eilan ...

Daughter of Rome Author: Tessa Afshar Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Release Date: 2020 Pages: 416 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis : A woman with a devastating secret. A man bent on proving his worth. A chance encounter that catapults them into the heart of history.      When the daughter of a prominent Roman general meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God’s plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can they anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them. Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and a ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they’re banished from their home by a capricious emperor, th...

Jewel of the Nile Author: Tessa Afshar Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Release Date: 2021 Pages: 432 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Whispered secrets about her parents’ past take on new urgency for Chariline as she pays one last visit to the land of her forefathers, the ancient kingdom of Cush.      Raised as an orphan by her aunt, Chariline has only been told a few pieces of her parents’ tragic love story. Her beautiful dark skin is proof that her father was Cushite, but she knows nothing else. While visiting her grandfather before his retirement as the Roman official in the queen’s court, Chariline overhears that her father is still alive, and discovering his identity becomes her obsession. Both her grandfather and the queen have reasons for keeping this secret, however, and forbid her quest. So when her only clues lead to Rome, Chariline sneaks on the ...

Cleopatra Victorious (Cleopatra Reimagined Book #2) Author: Helen R. Davis Genre: Alternative Historical Fiction Publisher: Savant Books and Publishings Release Date: April 30, 2020 Pages: 364 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: CLEOPATRA VICTORIOUS is the alternative history sequel to Helen R. Davis' award-winning novel, CLEOPATRA UNCONQUERED (Savant 2015). Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt, has triumphed at the Battle of Actium, which in the annals of history cost her and her lover, Mark Antony, their lives. She has won the battle, but will she be able to win the war and create a new place for her, her dynasty and Egypt in the annals of history?        My Review: The Battle of Actium was one of the most pivotal events in Western history. The battle marked the beginning of imperial Rome. This battle was so important to Western civilization that many began to wonder what would have happened had Cl...

Cleopatra Unconquered (Cleopatra Reimagined Book #1) Author: Helen R. Davis Genre: Alternative Historical Fiction Publisher: Savant Books & Publications LLC Release Date: 2015 Pages: 328 Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: The first book of three in a richly imagined ancient world where the course of history is altered by one battle. In this world, Antony and Cleopatra triumph at the Battle of Actium, and Cleopatra emerges as a queen, stateswoman, and politician. Those around her come to life as the reader returns to those days to live them with her.        My Review: Cleopatra Unconquered is the first in a trilogy that that imagines what would happen if Cleopatra won the Battle of Actium. This book narrates Cleopatra’s challenges to becoming pharaoh. She is the favorite child of her father Ptolemy XII. When he dies, Cleopatra marries her brother Ptolemy XIII. However, sh...

Twilight Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome by Faith L. Justice Publication Date: May 12, 2017 Raggedy Moon Books eBook & Print; 392 Pages Series: The Theodosian Women, Book 1 Genre: Fiction/Historical/Action & Adventure Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Twilight Empress tells the little-known story of a remarkable woman—Galla Placidia, sister to one of the last Roman Emperors. Roman princess, Gothic captive and queen—Placidia does the unthinkable—she rules the failing Western Roman Empire—a life of ambition, power and intrigue she doesn’t seek, but can’t refuse. Her actions shape the face of Western Europe for centuries.      A woman as well as an Empress, Placidia suffers love, loss, and betrayal. Can her strength, tenacity and ambition help her survive and triumph over scheming generals, rebellious children, and Attila the Hun? Or w...

Rome's Christian Empress: Galla Placidia Rules at the Twilight of the Empire Author:  Joyce E. Salisbury Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography Publisher:  Johns Hopkins University Press Release Date: 2015 Pages: 249 Source: My School Library Synopsis: In Rome’s Christian Empress , Joyce E. Salisbury brings the captivating story of Rome’s Christian empress to life. The daughter of Roman emperor Theodosius I, Galla Placidia lived at the center of imperial Roman power during the first half of the fifth century. Taken hostage after the fall of Rome to the Goths, she was married to the king and, upon his death, to a Roman general. The rare woman who traveled throughout Italy, Gaul, and Spain, she eventually returned to Rome, where her young son was crowned as the emperor of the western Roman provinces. Placidia served as his regent, ruling the Roman Empire and the provinces for twenty years.      Salisbury restores this influential, too-often forgotten woman...