Originally published under title: Empress of Rome. London : Quercus, 2010. Includes bibliographical references (p. 271-304) and index.
Contents:
Preface 'He chopped down the family tree' -- 'Superbissima' -- In the beginning. . . were the Claudii --- 'Innocent of guilt' -- 'Virility to her reasoning power' -- A young man of noble family, of native talent and moderation? -- 'Night would last for ever' -- Fugitive -- 'The whimsicality of fate' -- 'An eagle flew by' -- The price of comfort -- 'No magic chant will make you a mother' -- By the side of the goddess -- Sacrosanct -- 'A charming view with minimal expense' -- 'A man and his family should live together as partners' -- 'They compelled him, as it seemed, to accept autocratic powers' -- 'Born of his sacred blood' -- 'Her sacred office' -- 'If you come to any harm. . . that is the end of me too' -- Three cities of Judea -- 'The man set apart by such an alliance would be enormously elevated' -- 'Outstandingly virtuous' -- 'Tiberius closer to Caesar' -- 'What more can I ask of the immortal gods?' -- 'Try not to guess what lies in the future' -- 'Perpetual security' -- Purer than Parian marble? -- 'Blood red comets' -- Augusta -- 'His mother Livia vexed him' -- Above the law? -- Epilogue 'You held your course without remorse'.
Summary:
Second wife of the emperor Augustus, mother of his successor Tiberius, grandmother of Claudius, and great-grandmother of Caligula, the empress Livia lives close to the center of Roman political power for eight turbulent decades. In this new biography of the infamous empress Livia, Matthew Dennison brings to life a woman long believed to be one of the most feared villainesses of history.
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