[EUP]⇒ Read Gratis The Purple Shroud A Novel of Empress Theodora Stella Duffy Books

The Purple Shroud A Novel of Empress Theodora Stella Duffy Books

Download As PDF : The Purple Shroud A Novel of Empress Theodora Stella Duffy Books

The Purple Shroud A Novel of Empress Theodora Stella Duffy Books

Continuing the life of Theodora, Empress of Constantinople in the 6th Century, from Theodora, Actress, Empress, Whore, Stella Duffy offers the reader an inside look into leading a court and world riddled with constant change! Theodora never sought her present position, but out of love of Justinian she is determined to do her part to assist him in every possible way. This is a world where they rule at the people's pleasure and suddenly the people are not pleased, beginning a spate of time called the "Nika" in which the people riot, burn, kill and more. In this horrific period, Theodora loses her best friend, Sophia, and also loses her sense of trust in the people. For the rest of her life, she will rule with intrigue and power, using the people as they (honestly admitted) use her!

The next challenge to royalty is one that brooks no favors or sabotage, the plague, a more than formidable, terrifying disease that literally kills thousands per day. Justinian is not spared and suffers terribly yet survives because of the care of physicians who understand newer techniques of healing from the Middle East. Theodora's persistent care, even under great risk of contracting the dreaded disease, is astounding and poignant!

The vicissitudes of ruling an empire could not be better portrayed as we, the readers, read about the plots, challenges, betrayals, loyalties, and so so much more as August and Augusta (Justinian and Theodora) are motivated only by the best possible service for their country. Narses, Belisarius, the Cappadocian, as well as innumerable other powerful court woman reveal the essence of true support and fickle self-opportunism. The issues are both political and religious, but in reality power-plays direct what is publicly known and unknown. Theodora, however, is one very savvy ruler and misses nothing as her supporters assist in thwarting plots that would destroy the throne, if not the country.

Stella Duffy displays an amazing sense of each conflict in a unique manner and most of all in a graceful style that is like an Eastern dance, seductive, vividly active, enigmatic, and romantic. Because of her deft creation, we know Theodora in two novels as the intelligent, spiritual, political, comic, sexy, romantic, brutally frank, retaliating (never directly) and uniting leader. The descriptions of art and architecture, churches, food, dress, and more are stylistic and epitomize the rulers' and peoples' love of beauty.

The above is just a glimmer of the many scenes that truly honor "Theou doron" ("Gift of God") within these pages. Beautifully told, this novel is a MUST read!!! So, so well crafted, Stella Duffy!!!


Tags : Amazon.com: The Purple Shroud: A Novel of Empress Theodora (9780143122258): Stella Duffy: Books,Stella Duffy,The Purple Shroud: A Novel of Empress Theodora,Penguin Books,0143122258,Biographical,Biographical fiction,Biographical fiction.,Byzantine Empire - History - Justinian I, 527-565,Byzantine Empire;History;Justinian I, 527-565;Fiction.,Empresses,Empresses;Fiction.,Theodora,-548,Byzantine Empire,Empress, consort of Justinian I, Emperor of the East,,English Historical Fiction,FICTION Biographical,FICTION Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Historical,Fiction Literary,FictionLiterary,Historical - General,Historical fiction,History,Justinian I, 527-565,Literary,Theodora,

The Purple Shroud A Novel of Empress Theodora Stella Duffy Books Reviews

3.5 stars. There aren't a lot of books set in the sixth century, period, let alone one set in what we'd now call the Middle East but was then considered part of Rome, Byzantium/Constantinople. Nor books where the heroine is past her youth. Realizing, now, that the author had written an earlier book about Empress Theodora's earlier life, but since I haven't yet read that, I come to this one as if it was a stand-alone.

For the most part, I liked it very much, and it did work as a stand-alone. For some readers, the portrayal of a heroine as unfaithful to a husband she loved is a deal-breaker; IMO, it made her more human and flawed. Sometimes she was a sympathetic character; other times she did some really cruel things, or turned her back while they were done on her behalf. She would've been a loyal friend but a deadly enemy. The depiction of the Nika riots, the construction of the Hagia Sophia church, and especially the bubonic plague and dealing with the dead bodies... all horrifying and very real.

Other parts felt more like telling than showing; while most of it was told from Theodora's POV, there were occasionally slips into other characters' POV's. That's something that slowed me at the beginning but either they went away or I got so wrapped up in the tale they became invisible.

My biggest gripe is there wasn't any one thing I could identify that Theodora wanted and was trying to get throughout the book. It's more of a historical biography, hitting all the known facts in the real woman's life, with some embellishment. There were many little goals, but no big overriding one. I read on because I wanted to discover what happened next in Theodora's life, and I don't mind character-driven novels, but if you prefer strong plots, you might not care for this.

I loved the allegory of the Purple Shroud, which in many ways Theodora wore throughout her time as Empress, the real, living woman being "buried" beneath the demands of wearing the purple. I also really liked the way there was real love between Theodora and Justinian, despite the difference in age; it makes for a very unconventional love story.
I did not like this book.
Stoped reading it after 136 pages it was boring and I would have prefered reding a history book about this period instead .
Will not recommend it to my friends.
Gila
A continuation of the first book, Theodora Empress, Actress, Whore.
Good read
Impressive!
I first learned of Empress Theodora when I was about 12 years old. What an amazing woman! I highly recommend this book!
Continuing the life of Theodora, Empress of Constantinople in the 6th Century, from Theodora, Actress, Empress, Whore, Stella Duffy offers the reader an inside look into leading a court and world riddled with constant change! Theodora never sought her present position, but out of love of Justinian she is determined to do her part to assist him in every possible way. This is a world where they rule at the people's pleasure and suddenly the people are not pleased, beginning a spate of time called the "Nika" in which the people riot, burn, kill and more. In this horrific period, Theodora loses her best friend, Sophia, and also loses her sense of trust in the people. For the rest of her life, she will rule with intrigue and power, using the people as they (honestly admitted) use her!

The next challenge to royalty is one that brooks no favors or sabotage, the plague, a more than formidable, terrifying disease that literally kills thousands per day. Justinian is not spared and suffers terribly yet survives because of the care of physicians who understand newer techniques of healing from the Middle East. Theodora's persistent care, even under great risk of contracting the dreaded disease, is astounding and poignant!

The vicissitudes of ruling an empire could not be better portrayed as we, the readers, read about the plots, challenges, betrayals, loyalties, and so so much more as August and Augusta (Justinian and Theodora) are motivated only by the best possible service for their country. Narses, Belisarius, the Cappadocian, as well as innumerable other powerful court woman reveal the essence of true support and fickle self-opportunism. The issues are both political and religious, but in reality power-plays direct what is publicly known and unknown. Theodora, however, is one very savvy ruler and misses nothing as her supporters assist in thwarting plots that would destroy the throne, if not the country.

Stella Duffy displays an amazing sense of each conflict in a unique manner and most of all in a graceful style that is like an Eastern dance, seductive, vividly active, enigmatic, and romantic. Because of her deft creation, we know Theodora in two novels as the intelligent, spiritual, political, comic, sexy, romantic, brutally frank, retaliating (never directly) and uniting leader. The descriptions of art and architecture, churches, food, dress, and more are stylistic and epitomize the rulers' and peoples' love of beauty.

The above is just a glimmer of the many scenes that truly honor "Theou doron" ("Gift of God") within these pages. Beautifully told, this novel is a MUST read!!! So, so well crafted, Stella Duffy!!!