![]() ![]() ![]() An achievement that many writers will envy and few will equal. She clearly has great affection for her subject, but does not allow that to undercut her keen eye and pitch-perfect ear. Spanning over twenty dramatic years of Theodora's reign, THE PURPLE SHROUD is a vivid portrait of a charismatic, exceptional woman and a fascinating exploration of both the pleasures and the burdens of power. Stella Duffy, a versatile and gifted novelist, is uniquely suited to bringing Theodora to life. From the catastrophic and terrifying riots that burn through the city to vengeful enemies at the palace who will never accept 'Theodora-from-the-brothel' to plagues and plots and murder, Theodora learns what it truly means to be Empress. While wars rage on the borders of the Empire, Theodora discovers that the greatest danger to her reign - and her life - lies much closer to home. Clever, courageous and ruthless when betrayed, Theodora rules alongside her husband, the Emperor Justinian - a true love match in a world of political marriages. In Stella Duffy's compelling new novel, the beguiling and extraordinary Empress Theodora emerges from the shadow of history into brilliant light. Now she is Theou doron, 'the Gift of God', Empress of Byzantine Rome and the most powerful woman in the world. ![]() Once, Theodora was little more than a slave, the daughter of a bear-keeper, running barefoot through the streets of Constantinople. ![]()
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