Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore

Praise

“Theodora is a best-of-all-worlds book — entertaining, gripping, thoughtful and dangerously enlightening. Stella Duffy, a versatile and gifted novelist, is uniquely suited to bringing Theodora to life. She clearly has great affection for her subject, but does not allow that to undercut her keen eye and pitch-perfect ear. An achievement that many writers will envy and few will equal.”— Laura Lippman, New York Times bestselling author of What The Dead Know

“Duffy’s seductive retelling of the story of the legendary empress Theodora will delight historical fiction fans.”— Publishers Weekly

“Duffy’s retelling of the true story of a woman (500-548) who rose from lowly beginnings to become Empress of the Byzantine Empire is lively and dramatic.”— Library Journal

“There’s… intelligence and empathy under the energetic potboiler surface.”— Kirkus

“Duffy’s passion for her heroine, the charismatic Theodora, is evident on every page. The result is a novel that remains true to its historical sources, whilst managing to reinvent its subject matter with great freshness and verve. A vivid and affectionate portrait of one of the most fascinating personalities of the ancient world.”— Sarah Waters