2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tiberias Unmasked, May 8, 2007
This review is from: Vipsania: A Roman Odyssey (Paperback)
Burns is a historian who is more accustomed to writing histories than novels but his studies of Imperial Rome have led him to consider some possible explanations for some of the actions taken by Tiberias, especially toward the end of his reign. The book is based on known facts and Burns has added a couple of fictional characters to connect the dots so the motivations for some of the historical events become plausible. However, it is worth noting that the reader does not have to be knowledgeable about the actual history to enjoy the book and not knowing the historical facts might actually make the book more interesting, but the book does have some flaws.
Burns is a historian so the book is written in a journalistic style rather than a literary style. Therefore, the historical facts are there but interesting details and descriptions are missing, so the book reads more like a newspaper article than a novel. Nevertheless the story is fascinating and very quickly the reader finds himself engrossed in the story and wondering what happens next. The focus throughout is on the love between Tiberias and Vipsania so the roles played Livia and Augustus are minimized, especially that of Livia, who historically was believed to have played a major role in removing rival claimants to Tiberias.
The contemporary accounts do not paint a very flattering picture of Tiberias and Vipsania is largely ignored. Tiberias is generally viewed as a murdering sexually deviant monster, but Burns puts a different spin on this picture because he sticks to the facts and ignores the rumors, because most of these accounts are second or third hand and not based on personal observations or knowledge. It is known that Augustus and Tiberias did not like each other and that Tiberias did attempt to see Vipsania after he was forced to divorce her. It is also known that following Vipsania's death she was restored to the Imperial Family. Using the known historical facts, Burns has woven them into this revisionist (albeit fictional) history. The sexual deviations are left as unproven rumors - as they were historically. The persecutions after Tiberias left Rome for Capri are laid at the doorstep of Sejanus - where they probably should have been in reality. The arbitrary murders of several people who otherwise seemed to have no connection are given those links by Burns, which doesn't justify the murders but gives them plausible motivations. Using the known facts Burns has painted what could be a more logical explanation of Tiberias actions and his love for Vipania
My initial reaction was to give this book three stars due to its journalistic writing style but I gave it four stars because it captured my interest and I couldn't put it down toward the end.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A very enjoyable book!, June 14, 2011
This review is from: Vipsania: A Roman Odyssey (Paperback)
For quite a while I have been enthralled by the untold story of Vipsania and Tiberius and had wished that we had more historical information with which to understand their relationship. What we do know is that Tiberius was sick with grief for being forced to divorce Vipsania, this from Suetonius. We also know that upon Vipsania's death, Tiberius had her interred within the Mausoleum of Augustus, an honor reserved for those of the Imperial family.
Then to my delight I happened across this book written by Jasper Burns. Mr. Burns does an excellent job weaving a story to fill in the blanks of what we know of the relationship of Vipsania and Tiberius. Without giving spoilers I can only say that this is a most delicious tale. My only complaint is that the book is too short and I hope that Mr. Burns someday returns to this work and creates more detail that I can selfishly relish.
In its present form, the book is easy to read and very entertaining. I highly recommend this book!
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice, Light Odyssey, May 23, 2007
This review is from: Vipsania: A Roman Odyssey (Paperback)
Typically, we are forced to read endless details and sordid trails of the Roman men of the ancient world--Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula--and their sexual escapades and hypocritical notions put to test by the author and justified. This tale is told through the eyes of two men who talk about the events in question.
The novel is very straight forward: it takes place in the 1st century BC during the rein of the famous (and infamous) Augustus. The main characters are straight forward; there is Vipsania, the daughter of Augustus' general, Agrippa, and Tiberius, the stepson of Augustus. They are married young and have a son, Drusus. Tiberius however is forced to divorce her when Augustus needs someone to marry his own daughter, Tiberius' stepsister Julia, who was married to Vipsania's father. However, of course, love tries its best to find a way and the pair continues to meet in secret.
Just like in Allen Massie's TIBERIUS, this novel is a more sympathetic look on the second Julio-Claudian emperor Tiberius, taking him to a level, not where he makes mistakes and is likable but where he doesn't make mistakes and is sympathetic. It is only natural that such a man would come out in a good light when the novel revolves around his first wife and historically his great love, Vipsania Other characters however I did have trouble with--in an attempt to make Tiberius more likable, characters such a Julia are too outdated, and while an acceptable impression of twenty-years-ago, don't suit today. On the other hand characters like Livia are too apologetic--I would have imagined the brilliant minded mother of Tiberius to have held herself above a woman such as Vipsania, whose father's family "you need not look far to find freedmen and slaves." It seems that too much work has been put in to make Tiberius and Vipsania sound like saints while less care was taken with other characters. Still, the beauty of fiction is that you can imagine went from your point of view, so these details are hardly something to threat about.
Another thing I found interesting was the use of two characters Thrayilus and Alcincus, appear to fill in the historical gaps. On the one hand, they are good for storytelling and pushing the story forward, but on the other hand, there sudden appearance was quite confusing. The tragic thing is that they seem as if they could be great characters. That said, the novel is a very quick and simple read, widely spaced out and is a good buy for someone interested in Ancient Rome who doesn't want to drown in a sea of facts.
VIPSANIA is an interesting novel which I recommend to anyone who might have just got into the Julio-Claudians, or Roman history, and are looking for a book to read on that long plane or road trip. The novel is a quick and easy read, the chapters are short and spaced out, and the whole can be finished within two days if you are reading non-stop. While not the greatest piece of Roman literature, it is still an interesting read that anyone who loves or hates or is interested in Tiberius should read.
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