I was engaged in completing the Census during the weekend. There was an additional question: Are you happy for your responses to be unclassified after 100 years for future generations? This (Monday) morning, during the weekly team meeting in the office, one of my colleagues said yes, but not for her kids' data as that should be their decision. I, on the other hand, said no, although I'm not precisely sure why. Pondering over who would be interested in seeing my data in 2121 is something that I can't fathom in a practically meaningful way. However, if my potential descendants or people who knew me are around (assuming I'm not) and are curious enough, they could perhaps infer from my choice that I might have been a relatively private person. There are simply too many assumptions when we leap ahead 100 years. Something that we think we can vaguely envision, but if we imagine the 2021 in the mind of someone in 1921 and compare it to the current reality, we realize we have no chance.

So, time, the records of lives, the past observed by someone from the future—Yourcenar's project that she worked on for decades, writing as someone who lived from 76–138 AD. In one sense, living years of her life as Hadrian, getting to know as much as possible about him before writing through his being. I might have appreciated this book even more if I had read about Roman history beforehand, but it's easy to see from the Goodreads community responses how they have adored this beautiful, perhaps pioneering, ventriloqui-biography-letter. Looking back on the decades of our own life, distilling it into a letter, filling it with our own history, as well as that of the world around us, the truths we've reached through trials and tribulations, joy and grief, the thoughts that have evolved within us with the years, seasons, days, and each passing second, the feelings that we've carried with us as we've walked this earth, from our hometown to other continents, with all the people, places, and objects we've come into contact with, is difficult enough. And doing all this from inside the soul of someone who lived nearly 2,000 years ago is truly something else. Emperor-cally speaking.

I think it speaks volumes about the book that each of my Goodreads friends who read this has also written about Yourcenar's work with reverence. Manny's review
Fionnuala's review
Dolors' review
9 August, 2021

I, Claudius meets Gilead and it is Very Very Good.

These two works, although from different literary traditions and time periods, have a remarkable synergy when brought together. I, Claudius, with its vivid portrayal of ancient Roman politics and the complex characters within, offers a rich historical backdrop. On the other hand, Gilead presents a profound exploration of faith, family, and the human condition in a more contemporary and spiritual context.

When the two intersect, it creates a unique and captivating experience. The reader is able to journey through the ages, comparing and contrasting the different worlds and themes. The combination of the ancient and the modern, the political and the spiritual, makes for a truly engaging read. It allows us to see the commonalities and differences in human nature across time and cultures.

Overall, the meeting of I, Claudius and Gilead is a literary event that enriches our understanding of both works and offers a new perspective on the human experience. It is very very good indeed.

This book is truly the remarkable outcome of one of the most ambitious literary undertakings I have ever witnessed.

At the tender age of twenty, Marguerite Yourcenar first conceived the idea of penning the life of Emperor Hadrian. She dedicated five years to this task, only to destroy the manuscript and all her notes.

Over the next decade and a half, she repeatedly returned to this idea, yet each time she had to admit defeat. Finally, in her early 40s, she discovered a method she could have faith in, which she described as "half history, half magic."

She spent several years methodically transforming herself into a vessel for the spirit of the long-departed emperor. She devoured every extant book that mentioned him or that he might have read. She visited the places he had been to and touched the statues he had touched.

Every night, she endeavored to envision herself as Hadrian and spent hours painstakingly writing detailed accounts of what he might have seen and felt. She was acutely cognizant of all the potential pitfalls and utilized her considerable skills to efface herself from the process, stating that "she did not want to breathe on the mirror."

She compiled tens of thousands of pages of notes and rough drafts, nearly all of which she burned.

The final result, the memoirs that Hadrian might have composed on his deathbed but never did, represents the distilled essence of this arduous process and is truly unique in my experience.

The language is a beautiful and highly stylized French that closely resembles Latin in its cadences, and every word she uses has its origin in Latin or Greek. (This effect must be extremely challenging to imitate in translation to a non-Romance language.)

The world-view throughout is that of the second century A.D. The illusion that Hadrian is speaking directly to you is extraordinarily captivating.

Hadrian emerges as a great man. With Trajan's conquest of Mesopotamia just before his accession to the throne, the Empire had reached its zenith; however, it was now clearly overextended and threatened with collapse.

Hadrian's difficult task was to stabilize it to the greatest extent possible and maintain the increasingly precarious peace, and he achieved this well enough that it endured for several hundred more years after his death.

He describes his work with measured passion, neither boasting of his successes nor despairing of his occasional dreadful failures. The Second Jewish War occurred near the end of his reign, resulting in the obliteration of Judea and the dispersal of the entire Jewish race.

He is candid about his private life, and Yourcenar's description of his tragic liaison with Antinoüs is perhaps the most impressive accomplishment of the book.

Hadrian, like most of his class, was promiscuously bisexual and took a fourteen-year-old boy as his lover. The relationship, like everything else in the book, is presented entirely within the context of Hadrian's own culture, and I was able to accept it as such.

It is extremely moving; even if you are the absolute ruler of the known world, you are as vulnerable to love as everyone else. When Antinoüs takes his own life shortly before his twentieth birthday, Hadrian realizes too late that he is the love of his life.

His Stoic philosophy and his strong sense of duty keep him functioning, but from then on he only longs for release.

Fortunately, every now and then, the world is graced for a brief moment with a man like Hadrian or a woman like Yourcenar. Read this book and you will be inspired to become a better person.

“Take a life that is known and completed, recorded and fixed by History (as much as lives ever can be fixed), so that its entire course may be seen at a single glance; more important still, choose the moment when the man who lived that existence weighs and examines it, and is, for the briefest span, capable of judging it. Try to manage so that he stands before his own life in much the same position as we stand when we look at it.” From the addendum “Reflections on the Composition of Memoirs of Hadrian”


This is truly an amazing work, a masterpiece of literature. Yourcenar's use of clear, simple, and flowing language allows her to convey a wealth of understanding to the reader. As I read, I felt as if I had lived and traveled with Hadrian through the Roman Empire in the first and second centuries. It is difficult to imagine the challenge of writing a novel based on the impressions of someone from such a distant time, yet Yourcenar accomplishes this with great skill. Her deep knowledge of history and keen insight into human nature are truly breathtaking.


The novel reads like a letter from Hadrian to Marcus Aurelius, his successor. Hadrian is portrayed as a flawed but thoughtful, honest, and humane individual. He looks back on a life filled with incredible experiences with understanding and humility. It is almost impossible to read this work as anything other than a historical account, so rich and detailed is the narrative. The wisdom that permeates the pages is truly inspiring.


Although my knowledge of history is severely lacking, this did not prevent me from thoroughly enjoying the novel. In fact, reading "Memoirs of Hadrian" has inspired me to learn more about this fascinating period in history. I now approach the study of history with renewed interest, and I know that I will return to this incredible classic for many re-reads. This small volume contains so much depth and complexity that it is impossible to fully absorb in one reading, and perhaps even in one lifetime. But that won't stop me from trying.

This ought not to work on a number of levels and ought not to be as good as it is.

It is a historical novel about the Romans, specifically about one of their emperors, Hadrian. There is a great temptation to go into the Life of Brian mode at this point. Marguerite Yourcenar spent many years dominated by Hadrian, with numerous rewrites, abandonments, acres of notes and thoughts, and an immense amount of research, including traveling to places Hadrian had been.

The novel is in the form of a letter from Hadrian to his adopted grandson Marcus Aurelius, written in the first person. Hadrian is in his final illness and is looking back over his life. If you are seeking snappy dialogue or action, this is not the book for you. Instead, it is a series of musings, reflections, philosophizing, and commenting as Hadrian works through his life.

The novel is essentially interior, and Yourcenar explains why she chose to focus on this particular interior. It stems from a quote by Flaubert: "Just when the gods had ceased to be, and the Christ had not yet come, there was a unique moment in history, between Cicero and Marcus Aurelius, when man stood alone." This seems to have been the attraction of Hadrian. The novel was published in 1951, and there may also be a connection between the post-Second World War situation and Hadrian's time.

Hadrian's musings are wide-ranging and cover love (especially his teenage lover Antinous), administration (managing an empire), war, religion, philosophy (especially Greek), food, marriage, pastimes (such as hunting), politics, friends and enemies, travel, and much more. Hadrian is a great lover of things and is generally quite positive, not afraid to compromise to get things done.

Yourcenar puts all sorts of aphorisms and wise words into Hadrian's mouth. For example, "Men adore and venerate me far too much to love me," and "Meditation upon death does not teach one how to die." There are dozens more like these, usually making the book a joy to read, although occasionally irritating or provoking. You can tell that this novel has been truly polished and honed, worked on over and over again.

This is such a good novel that it is easy to forget that it isn't real history. Mary Beard's Guardian article explodes some of those myths. This is fiction, but it's great stuff and a great novel. I'm also interested in reading more by Yourcenar, as her life was also very interesting.

After long researches, M. Yourcenar has accomplished an excellent work by presenting a contemporary-modern equivalent of Homer's epics in prose rather than a historical novel. As can be understood from the sources used at the end of the book, "Memoirs of Hadrian" is largely based on real events and people. That is, the fictional parts take up little space, yet the work is written entirely with a fictional narrative.

Hadrian, one of the most important names of the Roman Empire, was the adoptive son of Emperor Trajan whom he succeeded, and Marcus Aurelius who succeeded him was also his adoptive son. Due to his admiration for Hellenic culture, Hadrian, who knew ancient Greek philosophers and poets very well, was a personality who more than deserved to be the hero of a novel with his passion for art, poetry and philosophy, his interest in libraries and books, and his liberal and humane way of thinking for his era. I think that with the intention of emphasizing this importance, the novel is told directly from Hadrian's mouth, without an intermediary, in the first person singular.

His frequent visits to Athens due to his love for it, his spending a lot of time in Anatolia and loving those regions, yet not loving Antioch although he stayed there for a long time, his frequent travels to cities such as Alexandria and Jerusalem, and even spending more time there than in Rome, were interesting to me. I was amazed to read about his role in the formation of the current "Palestine" lands as a result of suppressing the Jewish uprisings.

The parts where it is told that marriage was only made to continue the line and that Hadrian found his true love in his eyes, that is, in his young lovers, are remarkable as the parts where the author combines his imagination with a powerful pen. In fact, it is not a work that is easy to read with a strong literary language in terms of content, but it is possible to say that it is a heavy work with thought-provoking and philosophical sentences.

It would be very good to do a short research on Emperor Hadrian before reading this book, then the novel will be more understandable. I read it with pleasure and recommend it.

Rilettura; perché si ritorna sempre dai propri maestri.

Rereading is an essential activity that allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the works of our masters.

When we reread, we have the opportunity to notice details that we might have missed the first time.

We can also reflect on the ideas and themes presented, and how they relate to our own lives and experiences.

Moreover, rereading helps us to appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry of the author.

We can see how they have constructed the story, developed the characters, and used language to create a particular mood or atmosphere.

In conclusion, rereading is a valuable practice that enriches our literary experience and helps us to grow as readers and thinkers.

We should always return to the works of our masters and discover something new and wonderful each time.

Memory is one of the fantastic functions with which the human species has been refined. It is like building a castle stone by stone, which we call life. Its unique importance has been recognized since the Hellenic Empire dedicated a goddess to it, Mnemosine, the mother of the Muses, protectors of the arts. It was also early attributed to the brain, the resting place of these memories, this crucible of life, so well protected by a skull. With a prime status, it is no wonder that the fear of losing these pieces of a larger puzzle resides within us, balanced only by the joy of being able to share them. And if night is the time of day when, in a mental examination, we review the actions we have taken; old age - the night of life - is also the age of reflection and nostalgia.

In a long letter sent to Marcus Aurelius, his successor, Hadrian, one of the governors of the Roman Empire, lists the different stages that constituted his existence at the moment of his final agony. He remembers the insatiable hunger to reach a prominent place, carved out by audacious protectors; the erotic conflicts, full of doubts and questions, for the objects of desire, always relegated to a secondary plane, subconscious; the sense of responsibility that allowed him to maintain a prosperous and vast empire without the intervention of Ares or Bellona; the criticism of the meanness of previous powers, based on false puritanisms and absurd vainglory, more interested in serving themselves than in serving a people; the defense of noble values, evident in the well-known insignia "Humanity, Happiness, Liberty", which oppose misogyny, slavery, bellicosity, stinginess; the love for Ancient Greece, a model of physical, mental and spiritual culture.

By reviewing these episodes that constructed a line woven by inspired Moiras, the author offers a broad picture of a life full of the most beautiful colors, the most exciting contrasts, mysterious shadows, fine brushstrokes, and careful lines. Everything is intertwined by an assertive and precise language, palatable and pleasurable, which requires pauses to reflect on the flavor of the "breaks of the third leaf", imposed by flows of thought, and the historical facts inserted with rigor, which require additional consultation. It is surprising how a woman managed to enter the mind of a man, separated by 18 centuries. But the connections delineated, realized in a first-person narrative, created bridges that the reader can cross safely and, upon reaching the other side, be amazed by a natural empathy for the protagonist.

At the end of this long missive, the greatest postscript that we can discern is the absolute certainty of being in the presence of a vital testament, full of teachings, lessons and advice, not only to shape a character whose destiny will be to assume immense power; but also to guide other lives. This timelessness makes this book a perennial classic, to be leafed through by many future generations - because it is in the analysis of the past that a more vigorous present is oriented towards a promising future. May our memories not fail us, may they survive and revive in others, so that the errors diminish, the harvests are more abundant and the joy becomes immense, in a prayer addressed to a Zeus mitigated by Man.

"When one has reduced as much as possible the useless servitudes, avoided the unnecessary misfortunes, there will always remain, to keep alive the heroic virtues of man, the long series of real evils, death, old age, incurable diseases, unrequited love, friendship refused or betrayed, the mediocrity of a life less vast than our projects and more clouded than our dreams: all the misfortunes caused by the divine nature of things." (p. 111)

The statue of Hadrian, the 14th Emperor of the Roman Empire, was vividly brought to life by the French author Marguerite Yourcenar in this novel.

She delved deep into his thoughts, philosophies, and personality, and penned his memoir for him. Hadrian was not a conqueror in the traditional sense. Instead, he was a strong leader who introduced controversial changes to the Roman laws, making life more tolerable and humane for the vast empire.

By allowing Hadrian to be the protagonist of his own letter to Marcus Aurelius, the long forgotten man was resurrected from the dead, and his life and history were rejuvenated. Like a meticulous archaeologist, the author unearthed the relics from the past that were buried deep within the mind of an emperor who had a unique perspective on humanity, leadership, and statesmanship.

Although this novel was published in 1951, it was already completed in the 1940s and achieved instant success. Her hope was that Churchill could emulate the humane leadership of Hadrian and bring peace to the world.

Hadrian was Spanish by birth, Roman by descent, Greek by culture, and a peacemaker by principle.

The epistolary-style novel truly merits the accolades it received. It is a masterpiece of linguistic art, with a philosophical and introspective style. The translation was also brilliant.

An interesting article on Emperor Hadrian can be found here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

Humanitas, Libertas, Felicitas.

Hadrian, Hadrian!

This is the 1st person voice of a man striving to become the best. The reasons and results are often human, but at the intersection of emotion, intellect, and physicality, they take on a godlike quality.

The form is 6 stars - the best writing and "eyes" I have encountered in many, many years.

This is from the period (2nd century Roman expanded world) which most likely held the last remnants in which humans could occasionally, as individuals, truly speak freely. And I will not even attempt to define what that freedom entails.

Read this book. It's not just a biography. It's about homo sapiens. The core, the choices of will and fate intertwined.

The photos of the artifacts related to those places and people in Hadrian's life were spectacular. And the notes at the end of the book, after the resource namings and book progressions that she described! Those are beyond my ability to rate. As vast as the sky, with Hadrian following a mentor's pace to follow and chart. Lying on their backs, while eloquently positing the possibilities.

It takes at least 5 times longer to read than any average fiction or non-fiction book of the present era. And every page, every single one, has nuggets that could be quoted or discussed.

It's not only about love, government, the power to command and control, friendship, or destruction and conquest. It's about the very fusion that is the human person. Not just the mind, soul, physical body, emotion, or pain - but about the entire fused components of the resultant "awareness" of their life state of meshing.

A difficult life, a superb masterpiece.

Quando a história de um grande homem é contada por uma grande escritora, o resultado é uma obra-prima.

I read this book for the first time thirty years ago and remembered little of it, probably because I read it at the wrong time. As Marguerite Yourcenar said, "there are books to which we should only turn after the age of forty"; she to write it and I to read it. It is a book that requires time, dedication, and serenity, but it rewards us with everything we seek in a reading: pleasure and knowledge.

Adriano, sick, upon learning that death is approaching, writes a letter to Marco Aurélio in which he relates his memories of the glorious times of power and conquests; his immense love for the beautiful Antínoo; and, in the present moment, the acceptance of death that "can become the object of blind ardor, of a hunger like love". It is also the story of every human being, whether emperor or beggar; a fragile being in the face of love, illness, death...

Now, I am silent and leave the beauty of the words of:

\\n  Públio Élio Trajano Adriano...\\n

\\n  "Poor little soul so gentle
Of this little social body
That for some hard little places,
Dark, deserted,
Alone at present you go
Alas, you will never play again..."\\n

\\n  Marguerite Yourcenar...\\n

"A man who reads, or who thinks, or who calculates, belongs to the species and not to the sex; in his best moments he even escapes the human."

"A being drunk with life does not foresee death; it does not exist; he denies it in each of his gestures. If he accepts it, it is probably without knowing; for him it is no more than a shock or a spasm."

"The memory of most men is an abandoned cemetery, where lie, without honors, the dead they have ceased to love. All prolonged pain insults their oblivion."

"The centuries still contained in the opaque womb of time would pass, by the thousands, over that tomb without restoring existence to it, but also without adding anything to its death, without preventing it from having lived."

"Little soul, tender and floating soul, companion of my body, of which you were the guest, you will descend to those pale, hard, and bare places where you will have to renounce the games of yesteryear. Let us contemplate together, for a moment still, the familiar beaches, the objects that we will surely never see again... Let us try to enter death with open eyes..."

Adriano..."an almost wise man." (Yourcenar)

Antínoo… "the one of anxious and passionate tenderness, taciturn femininity…" (Shelley)

Who is Hadrian? What is the worry of this man? What is his trouble? What is his distress?

Hadrian. He was an emperor, a position that many coveted and most respected. Why? Firstly, the emperor had achieved what many desired. Success brought respect, and Hadrian had clearly reached a level of accomplishment that was admired. Standing at the forefront, he was powerful, intelligent, clever, and strong. It was normal to respect him, and strangely, my respect was not marred by jealousy. Through his impressive monologue, I got to know him and realized that I didn't want to sit on his throne. Instead, I felt a sense of reverence. He became a mirror, reflecting my own self-nature and perhaps fulfilling a part of my ambition.

Once, Hadrian was a young and healthy man, filled with well-being and ready to pursue his power ambitions. Knowledge was the essence of his life, and he believed he was a blessing from the gods, almost a god himself. However, the world is vast and life is complicated. No one can stay at the forefront forever, and man's fickle mind often leads to trouble. Hadrian, too, faced challenges and in the end, his physical illness brought an end to his reign.

Despite this, I liked him for his thoughts, insights, and journey towards freedom, liberation, tranquility, and truth. He had achieved something of great value. As the old proverb goes, "As you sow, so shall you reap." Hadrian had reaped what he had sown, but his boat of ambition was full of holes. Love, it seems, is the only thing that can save us. It is the source of true security, not monetary wealth.

Finally, the name Hadrian, especially as an emperor, holds a certain fascination. It is a name worthy of consideration from a reading perspective, and it continues to intrigue and inspire us today.