by Emma Southon
First published 2023
Roman history has traditionally focused on emperors, generals, and political machinations while relegating women to footnotes. Emma Southon corrects this imbalance by centering her narrative on 21 women who shaped the ancient world. Her approach moves beyond the conventional emphasis on warfare and politics to examine the lives of women who rebelled against armies, composed verse, sparked controversy, and navigated life both as independent actors and under imperial rule. Southon draws from her scholarly expertise while maintaining an accessible and witty tone throughout. The book spans from Rome's founding myths through the Republic's violent political struggles and into the imperial period. Rather than treating domestic and feminine spheres as secondary, Southon demonstrates how these women actively participated in and influenced Roman society. The result offers readers a fresh perspective on ancient Rome that reveals the complexity and agency of women who have been overlooked or misrepresented by traditional historical accounts.
Genres: biography, history, historical-fiction, feminism, ancient-history
Vibes: accessible, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: revisionist-history, underrepresented-voices
Setting: Rome
Period: Ancient
415 pages · Kindle Edition · Abrams Press