Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 1101552662
Total Pages : 279 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (15 download)

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Book Synopsis Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore by : Stella Duffy

Download or read book Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore written by Stella Duffy and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2011-09-27 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A bravura performance: a witty, moving, sexy book that bursts with as much color and excitement as the city of Constantinople itself." -Financial Times Roman historian Procopius publicly praised Theodora of Constantinople for her piety-while secretly detailing her salacious stage act and maligning her as ruthless and power hungry. So who was this woman who rose from humble beginnings as a dancer to become the empress of Rome and a saint in the Orthodox Church? Award-winning novelist Stella Duffy vividly recreates the life and times of a woman who left her mark on one of the ancient world's most powerful empires. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore is a sexy, captivating novel that resurrects an extraordinary, little-known figure from the dusty pages of history.

The Purple Shroud

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 1101603739
Total Pages : 397 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis The Purple Shroud by : Stella Duffy

Download or read book The Purple Shroud written by Stella Duffy and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-09-25 with total page 397 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Theodora

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Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199392390
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (993 download)

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Book Synopsis Theodora by : David Potter

Download or read book Theodora written by David Potter and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2015-10-07 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two of the most famous mosaics from the ancient world, in the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, depict the sixth-century emperor Justinian and, on the wall facing him, his wife, Theodora (497-548). This majestic portrait gives no inkling of Theodora's very humble beginnings or her improbable rise to fame and power. Raised in a family of circus performers near Constantinople's Hippodrome, she abandoned a successful acting career in her late teens to follow a lover whom she was legally forbidden to marry. When he left her, she was a single mother who built a new life for herself as a secret agent, in which role she met the heir to the throne. To the shock of the ruling elite, the two were married, and when Justinian assumed power in 527, they ruled the Eastern Roman Empire together. Their reign was the most celebrated in Byzantine history, bringing wealth, prestige, and even Rome itself back to the Empire. Theodora was one of the dominant political figures of her era, helping shape imperial foreign and domestic policy and twice saving her husband from threatened deposition. She played a central role trying to solve the religious disputes of her era and proactively assisted women who were being trafficked. An extraordinarily able politician, she excited admiration and hatred from those around her. Enemies wrote extensively and imaginatively about her presumed early career as a prostitute, while supporters elevated her, quite literally, to sainthood. Theodora's is a tale of a woman of exceptional talent who overcame immense obstacles to achieve incredible power, which she exercised without ever forgetting where she had come from. In Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint, David Potter penetrates the highly biased accounts of her found in the writings of her contemporaries and takes advantage of the latest research on early Byzantium to craft a modern, well-rounded, and engaging narrative of Theodora's life. This fascinating portrait will intrigue all readers with an interest in ancient and women's history.

Theodora

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781101551837
Total Pages : 339 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (518 download)

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Book Synopsis Theodora by : Stella Duffy

Download or read book Theodora written by Stella Duffy and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Theodora of Constantinople started as an actress and prostitute and rose to become the empress of Rome and a saint in the Orthodox Church. Roman historian Procopius publicly praised her piety and saintliness while his Secret History gave salacious details of her stage act and maligned her as ruthless and power hungry. So who was Theodora? Feisty and quick-witted, by the time she was fifteen she was both a mother and the biggest star of the Hippodrome. And that was only the beginning. A legend in her own time but forgotten by history, Theodora was a mesmerizing and extraordinary woman who quickly learned the art of survival- and went on to leave her mark as one of the ancient world's most powerful empires.--From back cover.

The Secret History

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Author :
Publisher : Cosimo, Inc.
ISBN 13 : 1602065381
Total Pages : 153 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis The Secret History by : Procopius

Download or read book The Secret History written by Procopius and published by Cosimo, Inc.. This book was released on 2007-06-01 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Secret History

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 1101607661
Total Pages : 450 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis The Secret History by : Stephanie Thornton

Download or read book The Secret History written by Stephanie Thornton and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2013-07-02 with total page 450 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Where Theodora went, trouble followed…. In sixth-century Constantinople, one woman, Theodora, defied every convention and all the odds and rose from common theater tart to empress of a great kingdom, the most powerful woman the Roman Empire would ever know. The woman whose image was later immortalized in glittering mosaic was a scrappy, clever, conniving, flesh-and-blood woman full of sensuality and spirit whose real story is as surprising as any ever told…. After her father dies suddenly, Theodora and her sisters face starvation and a life on the streets. Determined to survive, Theodora makes a living any way she can—first on her back with every man who will have her, then on the stage in a scandalous dramatization of her own invention. When her daring performance grants her a backdoor entry into the halls of power, she seizes the chance to win a wealthy protector—only to face heartbreak and betrayal. Ever resilient, Theodora rises above such trials and, by a twist of fate, meets her most passionate admirer yet: the emperor’s nephew. She thrives as his confidant and courtesan, but many challenges lie ahead. For one day this man will hand her a crown. And all the empire will wonder—is she bold enough, shrewd enough, and strong enough to keep it? READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

Justinian and Theodora

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Author :
Publisher : Gorgias PressLlc
ISBN 13 : 9781593330538
Total Pages : 196 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (35 download)

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Book Synopsis Justinian and Theodora by : Robert Browning

Download or read book Justinian and Theodora written by Robert Browning and published by Gorgias PressLlc. This book was released on 2003 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of the peasant's son who became an emperor and the dissolute actress who resided beside him on the throne is one of the greatest and most controversial romances of history. United, they presided over a key epoch in the formation of Europe.

The Love Children

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Publisher : The Feminist Press at CUNY
ISBN 13 : 1558616500
Total Pages : 328 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (586 download)

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Book Synopsis The Love Children by : Marilyn French

Download or read book The Love Children written by Marilyn French and published by The Feminist Press at CUNY. This book was released on 2009-09-01 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A girl comes of age in the radical 1960s in this “beautifully written” novel by the groundbreaking author of The Women’s Room (Kate Mosse). It’s 1968 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jess Leighton, the daughter of a temperamental painter and a proto-feminist Harvard professor, is struggling to make sense of her world amid racial tensions, Vietnam War protests, anti-government rage, her own burgeoning sexuality, and bad relationships. With more options than her mother’s generation, but no role model for creating the life she desires, Jess experiments with sex and psychedelic drugs as she searches for happiness on her own terms. In the midst of joining and fleeing a commune, growing organic vegetables, and operating a sustainable restaurant, Jess grapples with the legacy of her mother’s generation while building a future for herself, and for the postmodern woman. “French’s meticulous and affecting tale of the forging of one woman’s conscience encompasses thoughtful portraits of ‘love children,’ from peace activists to members of unconventional families, and a forthright critique of the counterculture that puts today’s wars, struggles for equality, and environmental troubles into sharp perspective” (Booklist).

The Empress Theodora

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Author :
Publisher : University of Texas Press
ISBN 13 : 0292702701
Total Pages : 173 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (927 download)

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Book Synopsis The Empress Theodora by : James Allan Evans

Download or read book The Empress Theodora written by James Allan Evans and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2003-10-01 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a biography of the burlesqe actress who became the trusted partner of Byzantine emperor Justinian in both marriage and government affairs.

An Oblique Approach

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Publisher : Baen Books
ISBN 13 : 0671878654
Total Pages : 269 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (718 download)

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Book Synopsis An Oblique Approach by : David Drake

Download or read book An Oblique Approach written by David Drake and published by Baen Books. This book was released on 1998 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alien minds battle for Byzantium!

Far Away Bird

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781733022132
Total Pages : 394 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (221 download)

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Book Synopsis Far Away Bird by : Douglas A. Burton

Download or read book Far Away Bird written by Douglas A. Burton and published by . This book was released on 2020-10-06 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Inspired by true events, Far Away Bird delves into the complex mind of Byzantine Empress Theodora. This intimate account deftly follows her rise from actress-prostitute in Constantinople's red-light district to the throne of the Byzantine Empire. Her salacious past has left historians blushing and uncomfortable. Tales of her shamelessness have survived for centuries, and yet her accomplishments as an empress are unparalleled. Theodora goes on to influence sweeping reforms that result in some of the first-ever Western laws granting women freedom and protection. More than a millennium before the women's rights movement, Theodora, alone, took on the world's greatest superpower and succeeded. Far Away Bird goes where history classrooms fear to tread in hopes that Theodora can finally take her seat among the greatest women in history. Theodora seems impossible--yet her transcendence teaches us that society can't tell us who we are deep down. Before there was a legendary empress, there was a conflicted young woman from the lower classes. And her name was Theodora.

Prostitutes and Matrons in the Roman World

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Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1107148758
Total Pages : 315 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (71 download)

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Book Synopsis Prostitutes and Matrons in the Roman World by : Anise K. Strong

Download or read book Prostitutes and Matrons in the Roman World written by Anise K. Strong and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2016-07-12 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From streetwalkers in the Roman Forum to imperial concubines, Roman prostitutes defined what it meant to be a 'bad girl'.

Nectar in a Sieve

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Publisher : Ravenio Books
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 234 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Nectar in a Sieve by : Kamala Markandaya

Download or read book Nectar in a Sieve written by Kamala Markandaya and published by Ravenio Books. This book was released on 2018-10-11 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This Is a Novel to Retain in Your Heart and Library” —Milwaukee Journal In the sun-baked fields of rural India, Rukmani and Nathan toil side by side, their love woven into the very fabric of the land. Their days are marked by the rhythm of seasons—the planting of rice saplings, the monsoon rains that breathe life into parched soil, and the harvest that sustains their family. But life is not idyllic. Famine stalks the village, and hunger gnaws at their bellies. Rukmani clings to hope, her spirit unyielding even as the world shifts around her. She witnesses the encroachment of modernity—the distant hum of factories, the allure of city lights—and wonders if progress will bring salvation or destruction. As Rukmani’s children grow, so do their dreams. Selvam, the eldest, seeks education beyond the village; Irawaddy, the daughter, yearns for love and security. Through it all, Rukmani remains the heart of their home, her hands stained with the colors of life—earth, blood, and sweat. Nectar in a Sieve is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Kamala Markandaya’s prose weaves a tapestry of love, loss, and endurance. Amidst the harsh realities of poverty and change, Rukmani’s unwavering love for Nathan becomes a beacon—a nectar that sustains them through hardship. “An elemental book. It has something better than power, the truth of distilled experience.” —New York Herald Tribune “Unique in poetic beauty, in classically restrained and controlled tragedy.”—Dorothy Canfield Fisher, noted author and critic “Will wring your hearts.”—Associated Press “A superb job in telling her story.”—Christian Science Monitor

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

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Author :
Publisher : Random House
ISBN 13 : 0679429220
Total Pages : 417 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (794 download)

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Book Synopsis Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by : John Berendt

Download or read book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil written by John Berendt and published by Random House. This book was released on 1994-01-13 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A modern classic of true crime, set in a most beguiling Southern city—now in a 30th anniversary edition with a new afterword by the author “Elegant and wicked . . . might be the first true-crime book that makes the reader want to book a bed and breakfast for an extended weekend at the scene of the crime.”—The New York Times Book Review Shots rang out in Savannah’s grandest mansion in the misty, early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. In this sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative, John Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case. It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well-bred society ladies of the Married Woman’s Card Club; the turbulent young gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the “soul of pampered self-absorption”; the uproariously funny drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet-talking, piano-playing con artist; young people dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a sublime and seductive reading experience.

Lucia

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Publisher : Vintage
ISBN 13 : 1400095115
Total Pages : 387 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Lucia by : Andrea Di Robilant

Download or read book Lucia written by Andrea Di Robilant and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2009-02-10 with total page 387 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1787, the beautiful Lucia is married off to Alvise Mocenigo, scion of one of the most powerful Venetian families. But their life as a golden couple will be suddenly transformed when Venice falls to Bonaparte. We witness Lucia's painful series of miscarriages and the pressure on her to produce an heir; her impassioned affair with an Austrian officer; the glamour and strain of her career as a hostess in Vienna; and her amazing firsthand account of the defeat of Napoleon in 1814. With his brave and articulate heroine, Andrea di Robilant has once again reached across the centuries, and deep into his own past, to bring history to rich and vivid life on the page.

Julian

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Publisher : Vintage
ISBN 13 : 0525565809
Total Pages : 528 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (255 download)

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Book Synopsis Julian by : Gore Vidal

Download or read book Julian written by Gore Vidal and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2018-08-22 with total page 528 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Julian the Apostate was the nephew of Emperor Constantine the Great. Julian ascended to the throne in A.D. 361, at the age of twenty-nine, and was murdered four years later after an unsuccessful attempt to rebuke Christianity and restore the worship of the old gods. Now this historical tapestry is brought to vibrant life by the dazzling talent of Gore Vidal.

Mary Magdalen

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Publisher : Random House
ISBN 13 : 1446499421
Total Pages : 546 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (464 download)

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Book Synopsis Mary Magdalen by : Susan Haskins

Download or read book Mary Magdalen written by Susan Haskins and published by Random House. This book was released on 2011-09-30 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A dramatic, thought-provoking portrait of one of the most compelling figures in early Christianity which explores two thousand years of history, art, and literature to provide a close-up look at Mary Magdalen and her significance in religious and cultural thought.