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Claudia: Daughter of Rome
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Orion (2007-06-13)
ISBN: 0752886614
EAN: 9780752886619
Paperback: 384 pages
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Customer Reviews
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Sometimes your dreams betray you
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-06-27
Claudia Procula (or Procles) was the wife of Pontius Pilate and accompanied him to Judea during his prefecture there (from 26 to 36 CE). Little verifiable fact is known about Pilate's wife and, despite this, Ms May has created a vibrant novel which succeeds in bring Claudia to life.
Pilate's wife is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew 27:19 : `When he was set down on the judgement seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have though nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.' (Holy Bible - KJV). This novel is set during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, and the history provides the frame for the fiction. The story of Claudia provides some insight into the lives of women of privilege as it does also of the intrigue and cruelty of Rome. Claudia herself is depicted as an interesting and at times fickle character capable of kindness but also of short-sighted impulsive actions. Her short-sighted impulsiveness is ironic, given her occasional prescience, but it does serve to make her more human.
Claudia`s marriage to Pilate, her infatuation with a gladiator, her brushes with Livia (mother of Tiberius) all make for interesting reading. While I was not always sympathetic to Claudia, I was fascinated by her life as depicted in this novel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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Amazingly absorbing!
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-07-19
3 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
What a fantastic book - rich, absorbing, emotive, provoking!! I never wanted this book to end - I absolutely loved it. Based on the story of Pilate's wife, the book is full of Roman tragedy, love and betrayal including a whole host of characters that we love - Pilate, Jesus, Mary Magdalene. But the focal point of the book is of course Claudia and how she is trapped in amongst the characters and the unrest in Rome. Claudia is a fantsatically real character leading the reader to become completely immersed in her life and emotions. You sympathise with the sights that she sees and the helplessness that she feels in doing anything to stop them coming true. The book is a costant rollercoaster of emotion and tragedy that makes the book wonderfully unputdownable. The descriptions are very vivid and rich which brillianyly depicts ancient Rome, the characers are all fabulously portrayed and anyone that is at all interested in anything Roman or that loves historical ficton will absolutely adore this book. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Please give this is a go!
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Retail Price: £9.99
Amazon.com's Price:£0.01
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