Her life would be marked by scandal and suspicion, worship and adoration… military officer. Her mother tells her, “It is possible for a woman to influence public affairs,” reminding Livia that — while she possesses a keen sense for the machinations of the Roman senate — she must also remain patient and practical.
But patience and practicality disappear from Livia’s mind when she meets Caesar’s heir, Octavianus. At only eighteen, he displays both power and modesty. A young wife by that point, Livia finds herself drawn to the golden-haired boy. In time, his fortunes will rise as Livia’s family faces terrible danger. But her sharp intellect — and her heart — will lead Livia to make an unbelievable choice: one that will give her greater sway over Rome than she could have ever foreseen.
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This Author has written and exception book with the historical view from a woman’s perspective. In this novel Livia is not the witch as written in history or other novels and plays, but a woman pretty much alone loving a man who has such an ego who rules the known world with intrigue nd politics at every action she may or may not decide to do. The characters are well developed and the storyline is well written. SO much so that I am following her on Book Bub and Amazon for any other of her books and recommend The Daughter’s of Palestine as well. The politics of that time and the dysfunctional family dynamics in Augustus’ family is explored in detail. How women by wit and intelligence can make changes to expected courses of events in history, which usually is written only by the victors as His-story in my opinion.
A beautiful love story. The other side of Livia’s life. One of the most unforgettable books I’ve ever read.
This is the first I’ve read of Livia where she is not portrayed as a villain or evil. Granted, there were places in this book where I did not agree with her or even like her (for short periods) but that makes her all the better as narrator and protagonist. It makes her all the more human and relatable. I loved this different take on Livia, and to my knowledge anyway, this is the first book from her point of view, instead of as a background character as I’ve read about her in other novels. I felt I was able to understand her and have come away with a new respect and admiration for Livia. I also am always a sucker for a redheaded protagonist.
As a lifelong fan of the BBC series I, Claudius, I have always thought of Livia (played by the incomparable Sian Phillips) as one of the most fascinating and complex women in history.
I was very excited when I came across this book. But in this book Livia is just plain superficial. There’s no great depth to her character, to her thinking, or to the dramatic story of the beginning of the Roman Empire. According to this novel she is NOT the deeply ambitious woman who poisons enough people to ensure her son becomes emperor. She’s simply her husband’s loving and chief helpmate. Even the dialog is dull and trite.
I much prefer the Livia of the Robert Graves books on which the series, I Claudius, was based. Now there’s an intelligent woman who knew how to wield power.
Think of this book as a mildly interesting prequel if you want to know the story of Livia’s early life and how she and Augustus met and married. As long as you don’t really care that the book is not very well written,
I AM LIVIA opens in an arresting way, when 15-year-old Livia Drusilla overhears her father and his friends plotting to murder Julius Caesar. Most novels would be a disappointment after that opening. This one is not. It portrays the life and times of Livia Drusilla who eventually became the consort of the Emperor Augustus.
Like most people, I don’t know much about the Emperor Augustus, and what I do know is based upon the stone statues of him as an awe-inspiring divinity. Like most good novelists, Phyllis T. Smith brings him to life, humanizes him, and makes us see him as the brilliant and charismatic young man he was, before the difficulties of life and the corruption of power spoiled him.
Highly recommended! Five stars.
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One of the reasons I have watched the BBC production of Robert Graves’ I, Claudius so many times is Sian Phillips portrayal of Livia, the powerfully wicked wife of Augustus and Mother of the Empire. One of the reasons I thoroughly enjoyed I Am Livia is the vastly different light Livia is portrayed by Phyllis T. Smith. Instead of the scheming woman clearing a path to the throne for her son Tiberius, we find a woman longing to help her husband gain control of the Roman Empire; becoming not just a wife, but an adviser who manages to soften the harsher side of her Tavius. The author has given the reader some excellent characters to embrace in a historical setting that determines the future of Rome and the world. Emotions run high and are on display in this tale; a tale that is well known, Octavius and Antony and who will rule the world. That backdrop to the story of Livia, and seen mostly through her eyes, provides a page turning delight. I came upon this book kind of accidentally and am glad that I did. 5 stars Highly recommended by the prestigious yet humble Hoover Book Reviews.
Great historical fiction.