Memoirs of HadrianMemoirs of Hadrian
Score Classic
What it's about
Near the end of his life, the Roman emperor Hadrian writes a long letter to the young man who will one day become Marcus Aurelius. In it he looks back on everything: his education, his wars and travels, how he ruled an empire at peace, his love for the young Antinous and his grief when Antinous drowned, and how he faces his own death.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Bokklubben list of the 100 greatest books, and it's one of the most convincing portraits of a historical mind ever written. Yourcenar, later the first woman elected to the Académie française, makes Hadrian feel wise, human and alive.
You'll love it if you liked
I, Claudius
The Name of the Rose
Wolf HallGood to know
It's a meditation rather than a plot-driven novel, written in rich, formal prose. Yourcenar's notes on how she wrote it, included in most editions, are fascinating.
By the numbers
- Readers79 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller18 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is Memoirs of Hadrian worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Bokklubben list of the 100 greatest books, and it's one of the most convincing portraits of a historical mind ever written. It ranks #570 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Memoirs of Hadrian about?
Near the end of his life, the Roman emperor Hadrian writes a long letter to the young man who will one day become Marcus Aurelius. In it he looks back on everything: his education, his wars and travels, how he ruled an empire at peace, his love for the young Antinous and his grief when Antinous drowned, and how he faces his own death.
How long does it take to read Memoirs of Hadrian?
About 10 hours (408 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Memoirs of Hadrian?
If you liked it, try I, Claudius by Robert Graves, The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco or Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.