The Tyranny of Socks

The short version of this review is that this is a wonderful book, and you should all go read it too. And to explain why, I might as easily quote the entire afterword as write a review.

This novel tells the story of Lavinia, the girl Aeneas marries in Italy, the motive of the war which takes up the last six books of the Aeneid. In the poem itself she famously speaks not a single word; she's more notable for her association with omens foretelling the history of the Roman people, and for a scene in which she blushes. In this book, she tells her own story.

There are a number of things which one might think this book is, which it is not. It is not an attempt to correct Vergil, or to outdo him, or to undo his work; it is, unexpectedly and wonderfully, as the author calls it, "an act of gratitude to the poet, a love-offering." And it is particularly wonderful because LeGuin understands Vergil's work as deeply as she loves it.

( spoilers, of a kind, for LeGuin's handling of Vergil )

The BBC is rushing through the second season of Rome -- two episodes a week, which is better than not showing it at all, of course. Sunday was "Philippi," and I spent Monday writing about Brutus and Cicero. I think I've seen it three times now, and I still don't like the way they handled Cicero's final scene. No blame to the actors, who both do an amazing job with it, but superlative acting isn't quite enough to salvage it for me. ( I think the problem is... )

I almost talked myself into liking the scene, as I wrote this, and then I talked myself out of it again. Oh, Rome, why must you hate political history so?

I could not make this a proper drabble, but at 155 words, it might be an old XF drabble. Consider this a reassertion of the appropriate historical order; there are spoilers for Rome 2x08, although it is set some time after that episode.

Title: Whip Hand
Author: vaznetti
Warning: Adult themes.
Summary: Octavian has only known success.

( Octavian sits on their bed... )

So I have seen Rome 2x06, and will have to think about it and let it settle. As usual they did some things well and some things... not so well. But when you're working against history and Plutarch and Shakespeare, I suppose you won't always come off well in comparison.

( here is Plutarch, on the death of Cicero )

First, from musesfool, it's the Weekly World News interview with Sam and Dean Winchester. There are spoilers for the next episode, but I read it anyway, because it's a brilliant idea.

And then, via metafandom, kindkit responded to that post I made about m/m sexuality in Rome and in Rome. I don't think she's wrong in general, but I still don't see Pullo/Vorenus.

One of these things is not like the others: more comments on Rome 2x03

It's time for the sex talk, isn't it? Although I'd swear that I made a post just like this last year (ah, no, it was on lesbianism in Rome.)

( under the cut, to spare your sensitive eyes )

And here's the passage about Antony, as I promised:

Shall we then examine your conduct from the time when you were a boy? I think so. Let us begin at the beginning. Do you recollect that, while you were still clad in the praetexta, you became a bankrupt? That was the fault of your father, you will say. I admit that. In truth such a defense is full of filial affection. But it is peculiarly suited to your own audacity, that you sat among the fourteen rows of the knights, though by the Roscian law there was a place appointed for bankrupts, even if any one had become such by the fault of fortune and not by his own. You assumed the manly gown, which you soon made a womanly one: at first a public prostitute, with a regular price for your wickedness, and that not a low one. But very soon Curio stepped in, who carried you off from your public trade, and, as if he had bestowed a matron's robe upon you, settled you in a steady and durable wedlock. (Cicero, Second Philippic 44)

So I've gone from Supernatural to Rome to Rome today. Sorry for spamming, but I couldn't help posting about this episode.

( spoilers for Rome, episode 2, Son of Hades )

Eeee! Romans!

Spoilers for the final episode of Rome; please do not read this until you've seen the episode, unless you want to be spoiled for things that you would not learn by reading a history book or Suetonius.

( honor and what affects it )

queenofthorns and coffeeandink reminded me that I forget the difference between what everyone knows about Roman culture, and what crazy obsessive people like me know about Roman culture. So here's a brief discussion of Caesar's habit of pardoning his enemies.

( it's not exactly a virtue )

As an aside, two useful online sources of ancient texts are Lacus Curtius and the Corpus Scriptorum Latinorum.