The Emperors of Rome charts the rise and fall of the Roman Empire through profiles of the greatest and most notorious of the emperors; from the autocratic Augustus to the feeble Claudius; the vicious Nero to the beneficent Marcus Aurelius; through to the maniac Commodus and beyond. Interwoven with these are vivid descriptions of sports and art; political intrigues and historic events. In this entertaining and erudite work; acclaimed classical scholar David Potter brings Imperial Rome; and the lives of the men who ruled it; to vivid life.
#34256 in Books DIVERSION 2016-11-22 2016-11-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .90 x 5.50l; .0 #File Name: 1682302997300 pagesDIVERSION
Review
53 of 55 people found the following review helpful. A much better picture of Miss Astor emerges (she comes across as ...By PattyHThis is a luscious juicy peach of a book that covers one of the most notorious incidents in Hollywood history. It was covered briefly in other books but I was always hoping for a more thorough coverage because this was such a bombshell in its day and is one hell of a story. My wish was granted with this book. You get acquainted with every character ( had no idea Franklyn Thorpe was such a womanizer; he'd always been portrayed as the injured party) and get taken through the story as though it was unfolding right before your eyes. A much better picture of Miss Astor emerges (she comes across as wounded emotionally but very strong willed) and we get to know little Marylyn and find out what happened to her in later years. Many photos are included; most of which I'd never seen before; which was fantastic. Well-researched and written; this will be the last word on this scandal for some time. Highly recommended.34 of 35 people found the following review helpful. Absolutely fabulous read - one of my favorites of 2016By Cindy B. (ThoughtsFromAPage)The Purple Diaries is absolutely fantastic. From the moment I started it; I truly could not put it down. Admittedly; I am fascinated by this time period in Hollywood and have recently read a number of books about this era so the subject matter appeals to me very much. Before I read The Purple Diaries; I knew very little about Mary Astor and her long; varied life and careers. Joseph Egan conducted an incredible amount of research to write this book; and his attention to detail really adds a lot. There is so much drama that the story reads like a well-written soap opera that involves various famous actors; actresses and other Hollywood players from that era. Throughout the story; Egan includes a number of photos and newspaper articles which significantly contribute to the storyline. Without these additions; I would not have enjoyed the story quite as much – it truly makes the story come alive; and I loved pouring over the old photos.The focus of The Purple Diaries is the custody dispute between Mary Astor and her second husband Franklin Thorpe over their young daughter Marylyn. The story is not a particularly happy one; but the independence and strength Mary Astor showed to pursue such an issue as a female in the 1930’s was nothing short of amazing. The fact that she was able to endure such controversy during that time period and continue with her career as an actress (she even goes on to win an Academy Award) is quite impressive. Egan interviewed and communicated with Marylyn Thorpe while writing the book and includes a chapter at the end that conveys Marylyn’s thoughts on her childhood and relationship with both her mother and her father. In addition to summarizing the rest of Mary Astor’s life; Egan also takes the time to quickly follow the timeline of several other of the major characters in the drama including Franklin Thorpe and his parents; George Kaufman; and Ruth Chatterton. I really appreciated knowing how their lives played out too.I highly recommend The Purple Diaries; Joseph Egan spent a substantial amount of time and effort researching Mary Astor with a particular focus on the custody dispute; and it really paid off. Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.27 of 28 people found the following review helpful. Well written account of a fascinating story!!!By Jennifer DayAlthough I am a fan of vintage Hollywood; I somehow had never previously read anything more detailed than a passing reference to Mary Astor's 1930s scandal; so I began this book truly not knowing what the outcome of the story would be. I was riveted. I found the book absolutely fascinating; well researched; and well written. Each personality in the case was brought to life and I came away with not only a thorough understanding of the case and its shock value in its day; but also a sympathy to all parties involved and their respective motivations. Especially fascinating was the update on Marylyn; who is now in her 80s; and seems to have lived a life unaffected by the calamity that surrounded her custody in her early years. Overall; a highly recommended and compelling read!!!
