I knew this would be a good book when I started it and before the first chapter there was a list of key characters. Always a good sign :) This is historical fiction at its best. I personally have always been fascinated by ancient Rome and this particular story centers around Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus Caesar. I'm not sure what I expected when I started this book, but now that I have read it, all historical fiction after will be ranked according to this one.
I Am Livia by Phyllis T. Smith is a memoir about the life and loves of Livia Drusilla. Told in first person POV, Livia at the ripe old age of 86 begins to tell the story of her life and how it began with her at the age of 14 overhearing her father planning the death of Julius Caesar. From there the story is captivating and moves quickly.
"I wonder sometimes how I will be remembered. As mother of my country, as men call me to my face, or as a monster?"
At first, I wasn't sure if I would like Livia, but I fell in love with her. Well-educated and loyal to a fault, she follows her father like all daughters do. She does as he asks, entering a loveless marriage at 14 and even follows his ideals about a free Republic. However, she adapts to her situation and the situation of Rome, and begins to make her own choices. If you've ever heard the phrase "a man is the head of the house, but the woman is the neck and can turn the head in whichever way she prefers", it depicts Livia perfectly. She excelled at this skill, letting her husbands and other men believe it was their choice, not her suggestion. Yet despite that, I could not hate her. The author wrote with such grace about the reasoning behind all of Livia's decisions that I could see myself making those same choices and mistakes as she did. Men like to say that women are ruled by emotions, but it's those emotions that dictate our actions and the author depicts this with Livia well.
I really liked and loathed the other characters accordingly. Tiberius Nero, Livia's first husband who in today's standards was old enough to be her father when they wed, was an excellent character. He was kind, loving, and though Livia didn't return her feelings for him until near their divorce, he never questioned her loyalty for him. I really liked him but in a brotherly way. Tavius, or as we know him from the history books Augustus Caesar, had a charismatic personality and I was instantly drawn/attracted to him as Livia was. He held a certain charm and with his ease of words won the Roman people's hearts. It is no wonder that with Livia at his side, he was unstoppable.
The main focus of this story centered around the ten or so years following the death/assassination of Julius Caesar and the events that affected Livia's life and family. It's a wonderful portrayal of the Roman empire during it's heyday. Also a sweet, romantic story of finding love with the one person you are destined for. Livia says they were two pieces of a puzzle, only complete together. It was a beautiful story, told as a great Roman epic, with modern vernacular which helped with the ease of reading it.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this story. It was emotional to say the least and I most certainly cried several times with Livia. But I loved it! While reading, it reminded me of the old TV movies about ancient Rome, except for once the main character of this Roman tell was a woman, not a man. This story is the tell of the woman behind Caesar, and I for one truly enjoyed every word! If you like historical fictions with a touch of romance and a lot of suspense, you will enjoy this book!
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Reviews with images
Exceptionally written and enjoyably readable, especially after viewing series 1 & 2 of "Rome" on Amazon Prime
Well written and very readable, you follow Livia from her youth as a Roman aristocrat through her marriage with Caesar Augustus, son and heir of Julius Caesar. I recently watched series 1 and 2 of "Rome" on Amazon Prime video and wanted to learn more about that period of history. This book was exactly what I needed, essentially covering the same period but from the perspective of Livia. I remember reading several Rome history novel of this same period written by Colleen McCullough in her "Masters of Rome" series. This book by Phyllis T. Smith is certainly the equal of the McCullough books. The plot is certainly familiar but we are drawn into Livia's life and hopeful she is successful. Smith describes vividly what it was like to live in Rome during the her life from 58 BC to 29 AD. We follow her from youth to her early marriage with Caesar Augustus. They were married for 51 years with Livia playing a principle role in helping Augustus govern Rome through the "pax romana" period. Smith has researched her material and follows the historical details from multiple sources of this actual period. I really enjoyed reading "I Am Livia" and highly recommend it. (Photo of Livia Drusilla from her entry in Wikipedia)
Top reviews from other countries
John Hopper
well written fictional autobiography
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2021Amparo
Versión interesantísima tanto de Livia como del Emperador Octavio.
Reviewed in Spain on April 21, 2016Amazon Customer
magnifique histoire tres bien ecrite
Reviewed in France on February 9, 2016