Agrippina: The Most Extraordinary Woman of the Roman World

I was somewhat taken aback when I started reading this book. It is very unlike any other work of history I have ever read - the use of swear words, occasional colloquialisms, references to modern times, and the frankness of the author as to what is known, and what can only be guessed at, is very different. It is almost like a fascinating chat over a few drinks with a historian in a pub, rather than the plodding recitation of facts which can make some history a learning experience, but too often a tedious one..There are plenty of facts in this book - it is just that they are related in a very light modern way, with some wonderful twists of humour - relating the reliability and believability of the roman sources about the life of Aggripina to the Cameron/pig story is an example - and the author does not hold back in explaining just what Cameron was accused of before rightly saying 'who cares'. Cameron definitely did at least one thing that was much, much worse for us all.Aggripina was a very significant figure during a time and in a society when men held all the power. Daughter of Germanicus, granddaughter of Augustus, sister of Caligula, wife of Claudius, mother of Nero, Aggripina was at the heart of Roman society and influence. She was smart, steely, and knew how to play the game brilliantly, how to survived and to proposer until eventual she was murdered on the orders of her son, aged 43.All of this is told in a very engaging style. After I had got over my surprise at finding the f word and David Cameron in a history set in ancient Rome, I grew into enjoying the book more and more. I am an ardent reader and learner of history, including the ploddingly and dispassionately written. With this book I thoroughly enjoyed the reading as well as the learning, and I will certainly buy more of Emma Southon's books in future.

I am writing about Agrippina the Younger for my EPQ for my alevels and needed a book which would compile everything I needed to know. Southon's book has been an entertaining read and a godsend as she references primary sources as well as adding a feminist outlook onto the life of Agrippina. It is witty and informative. This book definately has a slight bias so if your looking for an unbiased account of Agrippina's life (which I think is impossible to do) then this book may not interest you.But I would definitely recommend if you're interested in women of the early Roman Empire.

I love this book almost as much as I love Agrippina. She’s my favourite Roman woman for so many reasons, and this book is a wonderful source of knowledge about her life.

Readable, scholarly (but lively). Author uses her commonsense to pick up what ancient historians said, and chose not to say, in order to produce a very plausible history.

The period of the first few emperors of Rome is absolutely fascinating, and has been studied, written about, mythologised and dramatised pretty much ever since it happened. It's a transformative period for a massive civilisation that ripples through history today; but it also plays out like a spectacular melodrama with endless plotting, scandals, betrayals and murders. However as Southon points out throughout this book, the lure of a good story has frequently overpowered what we today would consider 'good history'. With very few direct primary sources (even the Roman writers we'd probably think of as primary sources were often writing hundreds of years after events) everything is suspicious.This is particularly true of a person like Agrappina. A woman in a completely male world. Historians throughout history have interpreted her as manipulative, self-serving and power-mad, but Southon brings a fresh approach questioning absolutely everything, going back to the sources and considering the agendas of the writers. These were people to whom the idea of a woman looking out for herself was horrifying, whereas Agrappina's action's take on a rather different spin when you consider that most of her family had been exiled and/or murdered, including young children who's only crime was inconvenient location in the family tree. I'm not going to call it a 'feminist' take, because that's incredibly patronising, it's a 'fair' take (many male 'characters' are given a similar fair assessment), respectful of the context and acknowledging the many things that just can't be known.The biggest thing I can praise about the book though is that the author's voice is loud, proud and HILARIOUS. There is no dry academic language here, she grumbles about confusing naming practices, swears about sources, calls out respected historians for their double standards, she makes off hand pop culture references and freely admits when she isn't sure of something. I absolutely loved spending time in her company and I came away informed, intrigued, challenged and hugely entertained. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I picked this up as treat for myself after I finished my Undergrad degree and I was not disappointed. The book is informative and downright hilarious. It is a must read for anyone interested in Roman history. I seriously can't sing it's praises enough.