Emma Southon

Emma Southon is a historian and author known for her works on ancient history, particularly focusing on the Roman Empire. She is recognized for her engaging and accessible writing style, often incorporating humor into her historical narratives.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. La Historia De Roma En 21 Mujeres

    The book explores the history of Rome through the lives of 21 influential women, offering a unique perspective on the ancient civilization. It highlights the significant yet often overlooked contributions of these women, ranging from powerful empresses to everyday citizens, who played crucial roles in shaping Roman society and politics. Through their stories, the book challenges traditional narratives and provides a more inclusive understanding of Rome's past, emphasizing the diverse experiences and impacts of women throughout its history.

  2. 2. Agrippina

    The Most Extraordinary Woman of the Roman World

    This captivating historical biography delves into the life of one of ancient Rome's most powerful and controversial women, exploring her rise from obscurity to the pinnacle of imperial power. Through a vivid narrative, the book paints a portrait of a woman who navigated the treacherous waters of Roman politics with cunning and ambition, becoming a pivotal figure in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. It sheds light on her relationships with key figures of the time, including her son, the infamous Emperor Nero, and examines the societal norms and gender dynamics that shaped her legacy. The story is a compelling blend of historical fact and insightful analysis, offering a fresh perspective on a woman who defied the constraints of her era.

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  3. 3. A Fatal Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

    Murder in Ancient Rome

    This engaging and witty exploration delves into the often overlooked aspect of ancient Roman life: murder. Through a blend of historical analysis and dark humor, the narrative unveils the various ways in which murder was woven into the fabric of Roman society, from political assassinations to domestic disputes. By examining real-life cases and the societal norms surrounding them, the book offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of Roman culture, revealing how the act of murder was both a reflection of and a response to the social, political, and legal structures of the time.

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  4. 4. A Rome Of One's Own

    Exploring the lives and stories of women in the Roman world

    A witty, irreverent history that recenters the women of ancient Rome—from enslaved laborers and sex workers to merchants, priestesses, and empresses—revealing the breadth of their experiences across class and time. Drawing on inscriptions, legal texts, and literature, it reconstructs everyday lives and extraordinary careers to challenge male‑centric narratives, showing how women worked, loved, worshiped, schemed, and wielded influence throughout the empire.

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  5. 5. A History Of The Roman Empire In 21 Women

    A lively, accessible account that traces the Roman Empire through short biographies of twenty-one women—from imperial elites to slaves, soldiers, and rebels—revealing how they shaped politics, culture, and everyday life, challenging male-centered narratives and mythmaking with fresh scholarship, sharp storytelling, and attention to their agency, ambitions, resilience, and the ways contemporary sources distorted or erased them.