Author Joan Smith approaches the lives of the Julio-Claudian women from a different angle to many traditional historians. Her viewpoint of the Imperial women is that they were the victims of condemnation by ancient writers who were not writing until decades later. Looking at the evidence of how the women were treated when they were alive, it seems very likely. From the families of Augustus to Nero, the imperial mothers, daughters & wives led male-dominated lives & their (tragic) deaths were usually a brutal punishment. The Emperors were cruel & some seemingly depraved & yet it is the women that have come in for the worst criticism.

The author makes the point that many modern historians treat ancient sources with scepticism when it comes to the Julio-Claudian men, but view them as gospel about the Julio-Claudian women. This is why such obvious caricatures about the women have survived: ancient misogyny still holds sway. For example, Smith argues that it is illogical to believe that a Roman Empress would be able to slip away from the palace every night to work in a brothel & return unnoticed, & yet the same old things keep being repeated as fact. Some of the notable historians of the past 50 years come in for some criticism about this.

Overall, although it was a difficult read at times due to the subject matter (misogyny & the casual cruelties women were subjected to), I felt like I had learned quite a lot about the lives of these women. It was interesting & written in a critical yet easy to understand way. I don't think anyone is arguing that these women were saints but they seem to have been excoriated in a way that the men don't tend to be. 4.5 stars (rounded up)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, William Collins, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I enjoyed this book and found it very informative. Joan Smith offers a fresh interpretation of original texts on Roman imperial women, revealing how figures like Nero and Augustus dominated, abused, and erased them from history. This perspective is both refreshing and necessary, challenging traditional narratives and exposing the deep roots of misogyny that persist today.

I loved Unfortunately she was a Nymphomaniac. What struck me throughout this book is how important is has to be to look through source material with a range of lenses - what historians have largely been unaware of or ignored, even recently (see Tom Holland’s many examples throughout his texts) is the huge bias that a misogynistic and patriarchal society creates, especially when almost all written voices from the period are men with at least some power.

So many women of the Julian and Claudian dynasties (the early imperial Roman Empire) had their characters assassinated in reports and histories as a means to justify the femicide and brutal treatment they endured - all for failing to adhere to the strict expectations placed upon them. In some cases, women of the family weren’t even atoning for their own ‘misdemeanours’ but those of their mothers or grandmothers.

Several mothers and wives of these esteemed ruling families suffered extreme abuse - they were murdered or starved to death, spent decades in exile or had their children taken away… but are still only remembered for being frivolous, adulterous or scheming.

Despite the upsetting content matter, this book makes me hopeful for the future of historical research. Joan Smith’s expertise in both Ancient Rome, Latin and violence against women enables her to see sources in a different light to that of the stereotypical classics scholar, which adds so much more depth to the lives of the women that have been written about.

As more diverse researchers enter the field and get their hands on primary sources, we will hear more accurate and rounded histories from the past. And that is something that can only be celebrated.

I will post on socials tomorrow, 4 November

Unfortunately, She Was A Nymphomanic is a dynamic new history of some of ancient Rome's most famous women. Using modern insights into domestic abuse and trauma, Smith explores the deadly effect of Roman misogyny on the lives of these women - and how those prejudices have shaped the way their histories have been told ever since. It's an emotive look at the classical world, bringing famous figures to life by examining the motives behind and emotional impact of their actions.

I sometimes find Roman history a little hard to absorb, with the same names recurring over and over. Smith's prose is full of forceful personality, which took a little getting used to, but once you are used to the tone it makes an engaging read. A distinctive and insightful gateway into the ancient world.