Weekly Reader: Theodora (Book 1 of The Byzantine Tales) by Rob Bauer; Brilliantly Byzantine Historical Fiction About the Early Life of The Famous and Scandalous Empress Theodora
By Julie Sara Porter
Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: If there is one word to describe Rob Bauer's historical fiction novel, Theodora, the most obvious one is Byzantine. It fits both senses of the word. It is set during the Byzantine Empire, particularly in and around Istanbul then known as Constantinople (go ahead and sing. I did for days.) It is also about the early days of Theodora I (500-548), probably the Empire's most famous and infamous ruler. Her husband Justinian referred to her as his partner in deliberations. She was known to be a strong and effective ruler. Among many of her most known actions were that she helped rebuilt Constantinople after she and her husband were temporarily deposed then returned to power, increased rights for women, and helped underprivileged women escape prostitution.
The book is also Byzantine in the second definition. It is complex, intricate, and densely plotted with various characters scheming against each other. One of the strongest schemers is of course Theodora herself who even from her youth had a duplicitous nature to help her survive early orphanhood, sexual abuse, and the political corruption that surrounded her.
The book Theodora is the first of Bauer's Byzantine Tales series so it does not cover her empresshood or marriage at all. In fact, Justinian only gets a mention on the final page as Theodora who has been through a traumatic troubled youth, fought against and outwitted her enemies, and is now facing adulthood and contemplating her next move. However, this book shows us the Byzantine world that Theodora was raised in and how the lessons that she was forced to learn shaped her into the woman and empress in which she later became.
Theodora is definitely someone who fits the "rags to riches" cliche. When we first encounter Theodora, she is an actress preparing for her most famous role, Leda, in the adaptation of the Greek Myth, Leda and the Swan (the story of the conception of Helen of Troy by Princess Leda and, who else but, Zeus taking the form of a swan). Theodora's performance consists of her being barely nude and pecked at by geese playing the part of swans (fowl appropriation?) and dancing and miming the copulation and birth on stage.
Theodora is quite well known and many see the performances just to see her, including quite a few wealthy potential patrons.
But fame as an actress in Byzantine Constantinople comes with some distinct disadvantages. The stage is looked down upon by many of the people in power, such as the Patriarch of Constantinople, who want to shut the theater down. Even amongst theater goers, an actress's reputation is not very high. It's barely a step up from prostitute (in fact courtesans are slightly higher on the scale). Not to mention that the shelf life of a Byzantine actress is very short. At 17, Theodora is in the apex of her career and her sister, Comito is almost considered too old at 20.
Theodora's life is fraught with peril usually because of the machinations of others.
Besides being an actress, Theodora is also invited to give private performances to the wealthy such as up and comer Alexander of Antioch. Alexander has ulterior motives however. He wants to test his son, Arascius' virility and orders a public rape on Theodora. Not only that but one of the attendees in Alexander's home is a former enemy of Theodora's family, with whom she has sworn vengeance.
Even when something good happens, like when Comito gets engaged to a man named Nestorius, other forces conspire against Theodora. When Comito is set up with Nestorius's brother, James, the young man is drugged. He hallucinates and screams that Theodora is a succubus. Theodora runs out into the night only to be kidnapped by pirates.
Well that's the Byzantine Empire for you. Plots are the order of the day and people conspire against each other for money, power, lust, revenge, and anything else they can grab. Alexander of Antioch wants to corner the silk trade and will make dirty allegiances to make it. Some servants conspire with former masters to kill or discredit their new masters. The Patriarch of Constantinople is less interested in the rewards of the Afterlife than he is in the financial rewards in this life.
This is a world in which two factions of chariot racing teams, sportsmen, athletes, called the Blues and the Greens wield awesome political power and many families have allegiances with one or the other. (Theodora's family pledged loyalty to the Blues for example.) It's easy to see why someone like Theodora would have to gain a duplicitous nature even from a young age to survive. The book implies that among the many reasons that Theodora was fit to become Empress was that she ended up being the best at scheming, adapting, and surviving.
Even at a young age, Theodora has a strong survival instinct. When she was raped as a child, she later poisoned her rapist. After she was kidnapped, she used her femininely wiles to escape her captors with the help of a besotted sailor. Theodora is the type of character who even at her lowest position is never at a loss for an escape plan or a means to turn the situation around to her advantage.
Theodora ends up living with Hecebolus, the Governor of Pentapolis as a concubine. A sweet living arrangement and respite turns sour when Hecebolus becomes controlling and abusive. She also learns about the corruption that he is involved like human trafficking. Theodora shows the origins of her leadership skills by maintaining friendship with servants and the peasantry, listening to the people's concerns, and especially defending the young girls who are about to be sold. This leadership pays off when during an insurrection, she is able to escape because of her new found alliances and even seek final vengeance on some old enemies.
Theodora is a brilliant book that shows the makings of an unforgettable empress during a troubled but exciting time.
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