THEODORA: ACTRESS, EMPRESS, WHORE tells the story of one of
the most celebrated women of the Byzantine-era. Theodora
rose to power from obscurity after she married Emperor
Justinian. Stella Duffy brings to life Theodora's unsavory
past growing up the daughter of a bear-catcher and later
becoming a notorious actress and prostitute in
Constantinople's infamous brothel, The Hippodrome and at
the popular theater, the Kynegion.
Theodora was the middle child of a circus family. Her
older sister, Comito, distinguished herself as singer.
Anastasia's beauty would require no special skill to single
her out from her older sisters. Although Theodora would
feel the sting of not having her older sister's angelic
voice or the great beauty of her younger sister, her best
qualities would take her from the life of an actress and
prostitute to becoming the most powerful woman in
Constantinople.
Theodora's early life was marked by loss and an early
introduction into theater life. The future empress must
endure physical abuse and accept the harsh life of a
prostitute. After years of performances at the popular
brothel, The Hippodrome, Theodora would create a reputation
for herself as a performer and prostitute. Her skills as a
lover, dark humor, and the ability to manipulate any
situation to her advantage would make Theodora's name a
household word in Constantinople and beyond. But Theodora's
rise to stardom would come at a price.
When Hecebolus, a handsome young man on his way to Africa
offers Theodora the chance to escape her life in the
theater, Theodora believes herself in love for the first
time. But Theodora's life with Hecebolus will show her that
love is fleeting and even the closest of friends can betray
you. While in Africa, Theodora experiences a religious
epiphany which will transform her from a public performer
to a woman worthy of an emperor.
Theodora's return to the city creates a stir among old
friends who considered her abrupt departure a betrayal. But
Theodora is no longer the woman who accepts beatings and
coins for her body. Theodora returns with a sense of
redemption and a new quest - to get close to the man who is
rumored to be named the next emperor, Justinian. But
Justinian is a stoic man more interested in books and
matters of state than pleasures of the flesh. However,
Theodora has made promises to those who sheltered her
during her darkest hours. She must insinuate herself into
Justinian's life in order to fulfill her promise and claim
her destiny.
Anyone interested in Byzantine history will be in awe of
this mesmerizing tale of a Byzantine empress. Stella Duffy
spares no details when fleshing out Theodora's character.
The future empress' nonchalant attitude towards using sex
as a means to an end is prevalent throughout the novel, but
I felt the novel focused more on Theodora's life as an
actress and prostitute. Justinian also plays a very small
role in this novel. I would have liked to see the author
devote an equal amount of time to Theodora's role as
Justinian's empress and developed their relationship a bit
further.
THEODORA: ACTRESS, EMPRESS, WHORE vividly
brings to life in Byzantine Constantinople. Stella Duffy
deserves praise for her historical accuracy backed up by an
impressive bibliography.
For citizens of Byzantine Constantinople, the name Theodora
evoked strong reactions--awe, lust, and doubt to name a few.
Sadly, Theodora is all but lost to history. Her story, both
mesmerizing and inspiring, has been rescued from obscurity
by Stella Duffy in her new novel, THEODORA: Actress,
Empress, Whore (A Penguin Paperback Original). Like
Elizabeth I and Cleopatra, Theodora was expert at wielding
power from the throne. Unlike those famous rulers, Theodora
was not born into royalty. Her rise to become Empress of the
Roman Empire began in the bear pit of the Hippodrome.
Born to the famed stadium's bear-keeper, Theodora's early
life was drastically altered when her father was killed by
his beloved bear. In order to keep their family afloat,
Theodora and her two sisters were indentured to Menander,
coach of one of the city's foremost dancing troupes. A
natural performer, Theodora learns dance, acrobatics, and
comedy, and by the age of fifteen, became the star of the
Hippodrome. Like almost every actress of the time, Theodora
was also a child prostitute.
At the age of eighteen and at the height of her popularity
in Constantinople, Theodora decides to abandon her career in
favor of following her lover Hecebolus to The Pentapolis
(modern day Libya) where he is the new Governor. She leaves
behind her beloved sister Comito, her theater community, and
her daughter Ana, whom she barely knows. When things turn
sour with Hecebolus Theodora escapes to a religious
community whose views conflict with the contemporary Roman
state.
Theodora renounces her former life, undergoes a religious
conversion, and is eventually sent back to Constantinople as
a spy. She is soon sent to meet Justinian, nephew to the
Emperor Justin. Theodora works closely with Justinian and
eventually he asks for her hand, changing the law forbidding
former actresses from marrying, opening doors for all women.
After their marriage, Theodora and Justinian stand side by
side as he is crowned Emperor and she, his Empress.
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