[Bookworm_Girl]

I finally finished this book today. I can't believe it took me four months to complete! However for me it was best enjoyed in small doses. A brilliant masterpiece indeed! Such meticulous care for details that it astounds me to think of the research done by the author. Therefore, like Bookpossum I really appreciated the inclusion of Yourcenar's reflections on composing the book. Her comments that the book called out to be written as a memoir rather than journal gave me a new perspective. Also I found it interesting that she started and stopped and rewrote the book many times over decades and that she needed to do her own living to have her own experiences for reflection to be able to better absorb herself and write Hadrian's memoirs with a more convincing voice.

I found the subject matter fascinating because in 2014 I had the great opportunity to tour several forts along Hadrian's Wall in Northern England. It was one of my favorite sight-seeing trips that I have done in England. It was so amazing to think that you were standing on the outpost boundary of the Roman Empire - this side civilization and that side untamed, savage barbarians! I need to dig out my English Heritage guidebooks and browse them with different eyes after reading this book.

From that trip I was a little familiar with Hadrian and wanted to know more. I remembered from a video that we watched about the reasons he built the wall and his desire to have a reign of peace rather than continual expansion. The tour also emphasized how the Romans built to the same specifications across the globe. It was really cool to see with my own eyes how the remains of the Roman forts in England look so similar to the Roman ruins that I have seen Israel. Just one surrounded by green pastures and the other by mountainous desert.

I don't remember who nominated this book but give thanks anyway! It was a great choice!