Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar
"Memoirs of Hadrian" is a historical novel that presents a fictional autobiography of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138 AD. Narrated in the first person, the novel explores Hadrian's ascension to the throne, his administration, his love for the young Antinous, and his philosophical reflections on life and death. The narrative is framed as a letter to his successor, Marcus Aurelius, offering insights into the complexities of power, the nature of leadership, and the human condition.
The 303rd greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1951
- Nationality
- French
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 300-400
- Words
- 72,000
- Original Language
- French
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This book is on the following lists:
- 8th on 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 (CounterPunch)
- 13th on El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors (El Pais)
- 60th on In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels (ThisRecording.com)
- 62nd on The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century (Folha de São Paulo)
- 80th on 100 Essential Books (Bravo! Magazine)
- 92nd on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 821st on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- Top 100 Works in World Literature (Norwegian Book Clubs, with the Norwegian Nobel Institute)