AUTHOR: Santiago Posteguillo
PUBLISHER: Planeta
GENRE: Historical fiction
READER’S NAME: Andrea Shah
DATE: June 8, 2020

Santiago Posteguillo’s Planeta Prize-winning Yo, Julia (I, Julia) covers several tumultuous years in the life of Julia Domna, wife of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus.

When the story opens, Julia is living in Rome under the notorious emperor Commodus (famously featured in the movie “Gladiator”), while her husband is stationed as the governor of Pannonia Superior, in what is now Austria. While Julia enjoys a life of privilege, she aspires to hold greater power, especially over the Roman aristocrats who disdain her for her Syrian origins.

Members of Commodus’s inner circle, concerned about his brutality, murder him. So begins the Year of the Five Emperors, in which five different men declare themselves (or are otherwise named) emperor. The story follows events in Rome as well as battles throughout the Empire as Julia’s husband seeks to defeat all other contenders for the throne.

As can be deduced from its title, despite the fact that the book covers Septimius Severus’s ascent to power, its main focus is on Julia, who proves to have exceptional intuition, remarkable intelligence, and a populist touch. She helps her husband navigate the shifting sands of Roman imperial politics in the hopes of establishing a dynasty, pushing him past the limits of his own ambition.

As the reader follows them over the course of their campaign—both political and military—to gain and keep the throne, they are given an inside look at a complex marriage, one that at times resembles an equal partnership.

The book also follows the trajectories of a number of their contemporaries, shifting perspectives to show the world as seen by the leader of the Praetorian Guard, a newly enslaved woman, Commodus’s concubine, an aged senator, and Septimius’ rivals. Of particular interest is the storyline involving the physician Galen, who finds himself aligned with Julia despite his disinclination toward politics.

Santiago Posteguillo’s previous books have all been set in Roman times—he first wrote a trilogy about Scipio, then another one about Trajan. (The second book in the I, Julia duology was published this year). Posteguillo painstakingly depicts the complexities of Roman politics, while also filling the book with fascinating details about life in Rome itself and throughout the Empire.

While Julia Domna has been written about extensively by historians, there isn’t much fiction available on her in English. Fans of female-centric historical fiction will find plenty to enjoy. Posteguillo depicts a side of Rome that’s often overlooked in other media by selecting a powerful female protagonist and allowing her to move through spheres only accessible to women. He shows both the limitations of Julia’s role within society and how she is able to maneuver around them.

Likewise, those who enjoyed Game of Thrones for its depictions of battle and courtly intrigues will be attracted to this book. Many history buffs have speculated that the Year of the Five Emperors inspired of the major plot points.

And, of course, readers fascinated with Ancient Rome who have enjoyed the fiction of Colleen McCullough or Steven Saylor, among others, will appreciate the unique approach Posteguillo brings to a well-known period in Roman history.

I, Julia is well-written in a straightforward prose style that presents no particular stylistic challenges for the translator. However, Posteguillo uses footnotes (for historical purposes), as well as italicizing many Latin words throughout and including them in a glossary at the end. For the English-speaker, it might be best to combine the two approaches to allow readers to define unfamiliar words on the same page.