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The Eagle and the Swan edition by Carol Strickland Romance eBooks

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The Eagle and the Swan edition by Carol Strickland Romance eBooks

The Eagle and the Swan by Carol Strickland takes us on a journey back to a time long forgotten. It is the tale of Theodora who rose from being a bear keeper’s daughter in the circus to Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Carol Strickland weaves fact and fiction as she tells of court intrigue, betrayals, and the ultimate power struggles.

Theodora didn’t come from riches but from a poor family and when her father dies she is forced into prostitution. Eventually she gives up that life knowing that she wants more for herself and her daughter – she knows that her prince charming is out there somewhere. Then she meets Justinian who becomes Emperor and knows this is the man. He wants and knows of her past but that isn’t Theodora’s life anymore and she refuses him unless he agrees to court her out in public. Theodora’s rise to Empress isn’t an easy one. She has to live as Justinian’s mistress until he is crowned Emperor. She now has all the wealth and jewels she could ever want but Justinian works obsessively and in some ways she still feels as lonely as she did when she had nothing. When the Empire falls will Justinian finally listen to Theodora?

Theodora was a woman before her time and used her power in any way she could. She believed that women should have a voice in the way things were done. Not only was she a leader but she was caring and generous with her wealth. She wanted to help the people who really needed it like the hungry and the prostitutes. So many of these were young girls just as she had been that had been forced into that life. Everybody has a story and Theodora was interested in hearing that story before passing judgment. Needless to say Justinian doesn’t at first heed Theodora’s warnings and because of that the Empire suffers.

I knew nothing about Theodora or the Byzantine Empire before picking up this novel which was one of the main reasons I wanted to read it. The novel is rich in historical detail and vividly brings to life this period in history. I came away from reading The Eagle and the Swan feeling as though I learned something and that to me is what makes historical fiction so great! For those who enjoy historical fiction and reading about a little known time in history The Eagle and the Swan is a great pick!


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The Eagle and the Swan edition by Carol Strickland Romance eBooks Reviews

I loved The Eagle and The Swan! I knew nothing about the Byzantine Empire of 6th century Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora nor in fact did I know anything about the Roman Empire after the Roman adoption of Christianity. Through Strickland's rich multi-layered account, she brings the period to life with vivid descriptions and captivating characters who were central to these turbulent, often violent, times. Through the words of the narrator monk who has known Theodora all her life and, as we learn, has always secretly loved her, we come to see Theodora as a true heroine and a feminist - beautiful and sensual, intelligent and determined, loyal and honest. It is interesting to contrast the view of history shown by the narrator and the "official" court historian (whose musings we are sometimes privy to), making one think of how history is always filtered through a lens. In fact, as the story unfolds, we think more about the lens and how it is usually a male one. As we learn about the ancient texts describing early female disciples of Christ and, finally, Mary's interpretation of the story of Adam and Eve, we understand more the truth behind the story of Theodora and Justinian and perhaps other stories (histories) as well. This novel is spell-binding, thought provoking, and educational. I read it slowly so I could savor the language and the evocative images. The images evoked and the events themselves unfolding on such an epic scale make me think it would make a great movie.
This is not quite the scathing ancient commentary of Procopious, but it's far from a glowing hagiography. There are times when this book reads very much like a lurid romance novel than the story of a woman who became a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, but one has to understand how she got from point A to point B to truly appreciate the dynamic woman who was St Theodora, the Empress and wife of Emperor Justinian. This book is a perfect example of the staying "all saints have a past, and all sinners have a future." I appreciated the various extras offered with this book that offered a more academic approach to how this book came to be written.
I did not want the book to end and when it did, I felt like I have been in the company of very unusual and interesting people who were with me for two weeks and then left without a promise to return. It is hard to believe how real the people, the smells the sounds of this long gone times are. It reads as if the author was there, seeing and smelling and living. It was disturbing to find that almost 15 centuries later we are still as greedy for power as they, in Byzantium were, and money and sex is still the currency of power. Nothing learnt? Carol has a very impressive way to bring her characters to life. The romantic walk along the Sea of Marmara, the intrigue and the plotting and the bravery and the obstinacy, and Theodora, humane but also drunk on power, a feminist and a kitten. It is all brilliant. I can easily see it being made into a movie or an opera. This is a book that remains stuck in your head and makes you feel that somehow, maybe in previous reincarnation, you lived among those people. It is rare to read a historical novel in which the characters are so captivating that you want to suspend your real life and be close to them again and again.
The Eagle and the Swan by Carol Strickland takes us on a journey back to a time long forgotten. It is the tale of Theodora who rose from being a bear keeper’s daughter in the circus to Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Carol Strickland weaves fact and fiction as she tells of court intrigue, betrayals, and the ultimate power struggles.

Theodora didn’t come from riches but from a poor family and when her father dies she is forced into prostitution. Eventually she gives up that life knowing that she wants more for herself and her daughter – she knows that her prince charming is out there somewhere. Then she meets Justinian who becomes Emperor and knows this is the man. He wants and knows of her past but that isn’t Theodora’s life anymore and she refuses him unless he agrees to court her out in public. Theodora’s rise to Empress isn’t an easy one. She has to live as Justinian’s mistress until he is crowned Emperor. She now has all the wealth and jewels she could ever want but Justinian works obsessively and in some ways she still feels as lonely as she did when she had nothing. When the Empire falls will Justinian finally listen to Theodora?

Theodora was a woman before her time and used her power in any way she could. She believed that women should have a voice in the way things were done. Not only was she a leader but she was caring and generous with her wealth. She wanted to help the people who really needed it like the hungry and the prostitutes. So many of these were young girls just as she had been that had been forced into that life. Everybody has a story and Theodora was interested in hearing that story before passing judgment. Needless to say Justinian doesn’t at first heed Theodora’s warnings and because of that the Empire suffers.

I knew nothing about Theodora or the Byzantine Empire before picking up this novel which was one of the main reasons I wanted to read it. The novel is rich in historical detail and vividly brings to life this period in history. I came away from reading The Eagle and the Swan feeling as though I learned something and that to me is what makes historical fiction so great! For those who enjoy historical fiction and reading about a little known time in history The Eagle and the Swan is a great pick!