Customer Reviews

Imperial Purple

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Fans of historical novels ought not to miss this one. "Imperial Purple" is set in the early Christian era during the reign of Theodosius II (408-450)and with the author's "The Bearkeeper's Daughter" and "The Beacon at Alexandria" the novel examines why "Byzantine" has entered our language as an adjective. Well written and reasearched.(alternate selection of the History Book Club)

I like Gillian Bradshaw's work very much. Like the best of the historical novelists (Sharon Kay Penman, Mary Renault, Robert Graves) she has done her research on the times and places where her characters are set. A reader does not feel these are 20th/21st century people wearing costumes as is too common in the worst of the historical fiction I've read.

Trying NOT to give away the plot, I will just say the main characters are a family of State Slaves (ie, belonging to the Emperor and working for the state) but surprisingly well off--almost middle class if that were not a current concept--but still, after all, slaves: a mother, father and child.

The time and place is 4th Century AD Constantinople, at the time when it had taken over the leadership of what was left of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless, though splintered and under attack everywhere by Barbarian tribes (including, at this time, Attila the Hun)there was still great wealth and power at the top, with the majority of the people surviving fairly well at the bottom. The Emperor was a devout Christian, as the royal family had been for several generations, but there were still some pagans, tolerated still, within the Empire.

The plot unwinds believably, and the slave woman, an expert weaver in silk and using the world famous murex purple dye which belonged to and could be used only by the Emperor, is drawn into treachery against her will.

This all happens very quickly in the first chapter or so, and thus I feel it's OK to have mentioned. How things go from there keeps the novel a page turner, or so it was for me.
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I will add only that my very favorite book of Bradshaw's is "Island of Ghosts" set in about the 1st Century AD, and in the parts of Britain conquered by the Roman Empire. The story is wonderful and also based on an actual situation which did happen. Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain.

Her novel "The BearKeeper's Daughter" is also set during the peak of Constantinople's empire, and is good, but I liked the two prior mentioned books better, myself, though its worth reading for those who love history or historical fiction, that is accurate and well written. The Bearkeeper's Daughter.

Bradshaw, who has a degree in the Classics from a top British university has a real feel for the people of ancient times. Her books cover a wide range of times and places, many of which, like ancient Imperial Constantinople, I had never read much, if anything, about.

Highly recommended!