I, Livia (The Counterfeit Criminal): How History Turned a Powerful Matriarch into a Villain

by Mary Mudd

A historical tradition of Roman origin represents Livia Drusilla, the third and much-beloved wife of Caesar Augustus, as a conniving, Borgia-like criminal. This view of Livia maintains that to promote the political career of her son by her former husband, Livia killed or incapacitated Augustus' descendants through his previous wife. Author Robert Graves, in his famous novel, I, Claudius, based his fictitious rendering of Livia upon this malevolent representation of her. The conceit is patently wrong, and essentially all modern scholars of Roman history reject it. But thanks to Graves' immensely entertaining book, and the British Broadcasting Corporation adaptation of it for television, the image of Livia as a devious dynastic murderess prevails in the popular mind. I, The Counterfeit Criminal aspires to correct the misconception, and present an accurate assessment of this much-maligned woman. The study's comfortably readable style is intended for general audiences. The first three chapters present a biographical sketch, focused upon Livia's public life. Livia was accepted as an extraordinarily visible, dynamic and influential political personage, by a society and culture which maintained women must confine their activities childrearing and other domestic pursuits. The following two chapters demonstrate the absurdity of Livia's criminal reputation, and offer explanation for its development. Three subsequent chapters seek Livia's private side - her habits, tastes, and interpersonal relationships. Livia (who suffered from colds and chronic arthritis) was an amiable soul with a self-deprecating sense of humor. She was a loving, supportive, forbearant wife and mother, an intellectual with profound political insights, an enthusiastic traveller, a connoisseur of art. Although generally patient and demure, she could also be impulsive, assertive, opinionated and, especially in later life, petulant. The final chapter examines how Livia became, and remained, a symbol of Roman imperial power. The brief epilogue describes the physical appearances of Livia and the members of her family. Also included are relevant appendices, a comprehensive bibliography, and color images of surviving wall paintings from her homes.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

404 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2005

Reviews

[Liviu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts quite interesting but then tries a bit too hard to make its case; while I kind of agree with its premise, I think there is too much about the latter years (after Augustus' death and the ascension of Tiberius), while really most of the accusations against the empress refer to the earlier years and the succession

Overall good but plodding in parts.

[Stef]

God Forbid Women Do Anything.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did read it on Kindle and very much appreciated the way that the author organized chapters beginning with overview of circumstances and Roman history predating her birth and then her life

I found she did excellent at explaining traditional and ceremonial roles and political positions in the Roman system in a way that made the book less daunting than I feared it may be to someone not in knowledge of the political system at this stage with decline and fall of Republic.

The introduction, epilogue, and bibliography as well as illustrations all served particularly helpful. I appreciated her mentioning the various Roman sources and the inherent biases that they would have has and role played in shaping what we conceive of Livia today.

[John Sinclair · Rating 2 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW ⭐️⭐️
I believe Mary Mudd made her case that Livia wasn’t evil personified. She won’t be the last woman vilified wrongly by posterity (see Mary I, Marie Antoinette, others.) So, reputation rehabilitated.

Note: this book needs an editor badly. It is a veritable “Museum of the Comma Splice and Other Unnecessary, Things”. It was really distracting. I itched for a red pen.

#bibliophile #book #bookish #booklover #books #books2021 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookworm #goodreads #instabook #instabooks #reader #readers #reading #readingroom #readersofinstagram #bookreview

[Alec · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seemed like a very thorough examination of the Livia's life and how she's been perceived through the ages. I also really enjoyed the sections of the book on her personal life - her acquaintances and friends, how she interacted with her family. I got this book after watching I, Claudius and wanted to know if she really was the murderess as portrayed. I could have done without the profligate use of commas and their strange placement. But overall pretty interesting.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough in research - I know I could never keep all the names and relationships straight.