Marguerite Yourcenar's Hadrian: Writing the Life of a Roman Emperor

Marguerite Yourcenar's Hadrian is a 1951 novel that recreates the life of the Roman emperor Hadrian. Keith Bradley's book explores how it was written, provides details about Yourcenar's life, and discusses the historical problems presented in the novel. It highlights Yourcenar's knowledge of ancient evidence and her use of contemporary criticism. The book compares modern life-writing methods to conventional Roman biographies and reveals how imaginative literary recreation can be similar to historical speculation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 479 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2024
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Marguerite Yourcenar, renowned for her 1951 novel Mémoires d'Hadrien, has gained recognition for her portrayal of the life of the Roman emperor Hadrian. This work can be approached from various angles, including the challenges inherent in writing Roman imperial biographies and the extent to which Mémoires can be considered historically authentic. In his book, Keith Bradley delves into the origins of Mémoires d'Hadrien, providing insights into Yourcenar's personal background and discussing the intricate historical issues presented in her novel. Bradley draws upon a wide range of sources, including Yourcenar's correspondence, interviews with journalists, and her entire literary corpus. He highlights Yourcenar's profound knowledge of the ancient evidence upon which her life of Hadrian is based and employs a diverse range of contemporary Yourcenarian criticism. The book pays particular attention to the methods by which Yourcenar believed Hadrian's life history could be recovered, compares examples of modern life-writing, and contrasts the approaches of conventional Roman biographers. By revealing the processes and considerations that shaped Mémoires d'Hadrien, Bradley illustrates how imaginative literary recreation can often overlap with historical speculation. Through this exploration, he sheds light on the unique qualities of Yourcenar's work and its contribution to the field of historical fiction.

Weight: 888g
Dimension: 160 x 239 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487548810