Publisher: Penguin Books
Format Read & Source: Trade Paperback from Penguin Books
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon The Book Depository Barnes & Noble
Book Blurb (from goodreads):
Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore,
Stella Duffy’s chronicle of this amazing woman’s early years, delighted
readers with its exquisite blend of historical detail and vivid
storytelling. Now, The Purple Shroud chronicles Theodora at the height of her power, bringing the ancient world alive in another unforgettable, epic saga.
Theodora and Justinian have been crowned Emperor and Empress, but
ruling an empire is no easy task. The two factions of Christianity are
still battling for dogmatic supremacy, the Empire’s borders are not
secure, and Theodora worries about the ambitions of Justinian’s two best
generals. But the most pressing concern is close to home:
Constantinople’s two factions, the Blues and the Greens, are beginning
to unite in their unhappiness with rising taxes. When that unhappiness
spills over into all-out violence, thousands are killed (including
someone very close to Theodora) and many of the City’s landmarks are
destroyed, including Theodora’s beloved Hagia Sophia. In the aftermath
of the riots, Theodora guides Justinian in gaining back the love and
trust of the people, her unerring instinct for what the people want
proving invaluable. Justinian promises to rebuild the Hagia Sophia to be
even more spectacular than before. Theodora comes to realize that being
the Augusta is simply another role she must play, though the stakes are
much higher and there is no offstage. It’s a role she was born to play.
Quote:
Justinian went on, ‘I will not lose you, Theodora.’
She whispered, ‘No.’
‘Nor,’ he added, loosening his grip just a little, stroking his thumb
along her fingers, ‘do I want to lose you to Narses’ idea of what a good
wife should be.’
‘The eunuch likes his ladies to be quiet.’
‘It was the eunuch who brought me a grown woman in the first place. We
had no call for a malleable girl. Perhaps he has forgotten that. The
dutiful Theodora is too placid for our Palace and, I admit, less useful.
I miss my adversary, my cohort. I need your mind and your energy more
than I need your wifely obedience.’
Theodora smiled then. ‘But you do require wifely obedience?’
Justinian was not smiling when he answered, ‘Yes. A little.’
Reviewed By: Bea
Bea's Thoughts:
Just
as the blurb says,
the first book was a marvelous blend of storytelling
and historical fiction. Historical fiction is not my usual genre but
the title and blurb caught my eye so I gave it a try. I was glad that I did; I didn’t want the
story to end and knew I wanted more; I was delighted to hear Duffy was
working on a sequel.
The Purple Shroud picks up about ten years
after the first book. Justinian and Theodora’s marriage is still strong
but there are problems in the empire. The religious schisms are not
lessening, there are political problems internally and externally, and
even their closest advisers are a source of conflict. Theodora is less
trusting than Justinian, which sometimes creates problems but Justinian
is always Theodora’s first priority. Justinian values Theodora’s
viewpoint and encourages her to think for herself even, and especially,
when they disagree.
The first book focused on Theodora, her life, her struggles, and her
emotions; this book is focused on Justinian and Theodora as a ruling
couple. The story is told from Theodora’s point of view except for the
very end. There’s a stronger emphasis on the religious and political
struggles and oh, the political intrigue! I’m not usually a fan of books
high in politics but Duffy has an engaging style and I was captivated
the whole way through. Duffy doesn’t forget the personal side of
Theodora’s story and she succeeds in making her real. Theodora wasn’t
always likable, she made personal and political decisions that I found
to swallow. In some respects, she is no longer that little girl who was
an acrobat and actress, no longer the teenager who whored to provide for
her family; she converted to Christianity, not out convenience but out
of strong belief and those beliefs and her passion for her Church drive
her actions. However, like many rulers, sometimes her religious morals
are subjugated to her political beliefs and political necessity as well
as her intense desire to protect Justinian. She does what she believes
is necessary and believes that the end justifies the means. Her acting
skills are useful as a ruler and she often thinks of her job as a role, a
belief that sometimes creates problems for her.
Since this is fiction, Theodora’s emotions, motivations and behavior
are a mix of fact and Duffy’s invention. Duffy does an excellent job of
bringing Theodora to life and shining a light on this little known
ruler. The writing is complex and the story captivating. “The Purple
Shroud” is a fascinating and enjoyable blend of love story, political
intrigue, and a look at early Christianity.
This review first appeared at
BookTrib.
I received this book for review from the publisher.
