Apr 2025 - A Rome of One's Own (Emma Southon)

[Victoria]

Here at the book club, women’s history is OUR Roman Empire. But for April, the Roman Empire is also our Roman Empire! Did that make sense? I’m trying to announce that next month we’re reading A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women (UK) or A Rome of One's Own: The Forgotten Women of the Roman Empire (US) by the great Emma Southon.

To inspire you to read along with us, check out this quick blurb:

“In this alternative history, Emma Southon tells another story about the Romans, one that lives through Vestal Virgins and sex workers, business owners and poets, empresses and saints.

- Discover how entrepreneurial sex worker **Hispala Faecenia** uncovered a conspiracy of treason, human sacrifice and Bacchic orgies so wild they would make Donna Tartt blush, becoming one of Rome’s unlikeliest heroes.
- Book yourself a table at the House of **Julia Felix** and get to know Pompeii’s savviest businesswoman and restauranteur. Indulge in an array of locally sourced delicacies as you take in the wonderful view of Mount Vesuvius… what could possibly go wrong?
- Join the inimitable **Septimia Zenobia**, who – after watching a series of incompetent, psychopathic and incompetently psychopathic emperors almost destroy the Empire – did what any of us would do. She declared herself Empress, took over half the Roman Empire and ran it herself.”

I’ve already got my copy in hand! Grab yours from your local library, or check it out from [Bookshop.org](http://Bookshop.org) to support your local bookstore!

[Victoria]

Last month we read A Rome of One’s Own (UK: A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women) by @emmasouthon, a book I absolutely adored! But I completely forgot to repost our discussion questions here, so please accept my apologies. Here's what we were discussing over on instagram, facebook and bluesky at hiddenhalfbook:

Q1: Looking at the chapter list, how many of these women had you heard of before?

[For those of you who haven’t grabbed your copy yet: Tarpeia & Hersilia, Tanaquil, Lucretia & Tullia, Oppia, Hispala Faecenia, Clodia, Turia, Julia Caesar, Cartimandua & Boudicca, Julia Felix, Sulpicia Lepidina, Julia Balbilla, Perpetua, Julia Maesa & Julia Mamaea, Zenobia, Melania the Elder, Galla Placidia]

Q2: What are Southon’s stated biases (ie. what topics does she care about vs not care about)? How do they match up to your own?

Q3: How successful is this book as a women’s history vs. a history of the Roman Empire?

Q4: From Zenobia to Galla Placidia, I was happily surprised to find that I hadn’t heard of the vast majority of the women than Southon showcases. Which of these women’s stories was your favorite and why?

For me, Julia Balbilla’s story really stands out, as we get to hear her poetry in her own words on the sunny morning banks of the Nile. As a nerd, I really enjoyed Southon’s discussion of the age old question: is it gay to write in Aeolic Greek?

Pop your thoughts to this - or general thoughts on the book! - in the comments below.