Memoirs Of Hadrian, Yourcenar - B

              Hadrian (76-138 A.D.) was emperor for 21 years, and is generally applauded for focusing on consolidating, not expanding, his domains. He promoted Athens as the cultural capital of Rome. This novel is an imagining of a letter to his successor, Marcus Aurelius. 

             After bemoaning the state of his health, he turned to his story and praised his education in Rome and Athens. His cousin Trajan placed him in the army on the Danube frontier, where he s enjoyed fighting for a man who was more soldier than emperor. He fought well and garnered the approval of the emperor, who married him to Sabina, his grand niece. While back on the northeast frontier, Hadrian began to develop a philosophy of government inconsistent with Trajan's and most Romans. He began to view endless war as a folly, one that drained resources and men, and began to believe a military focused exclusively on defense was optimal. While governor of Syria, Hadrian saw Trajan embark on an ambitious, but in Hadrian's mind, foolish advance east to fight the Parthians, conquer Arabia, and reach farther into Asia. Trajan's plans for conquest faltered, as did his health. He died far from Rome, and designated Hadrian his heir. 

              Hadrian immediately settled the war in the east, and returned to Rome.  He refused the honors and titles the Senate wished to bestow as he designed a less imperial household and continued to treat all with dignity. He was "thankful to the gods" that he had the  opportunity to reorganize the state, not have to save it from some crisis. He traveled the empire, building new cities and endeavoring to negotiate issues with foreign powers to avoid armed hostilities. He spent little time in Rome and preferred Athens. His efforts to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem faltered when a massive anti-Roman uprising by the Jews broke out. It was a four year battle in which the Jews crushed the occupiers before they themselves were put down in a massive loss of life, and the end of Jewish political independence. From there, he returned to Rome to prepare for the end. "Let us try if we can to enter unto death with open eyes." This book is less a telling of the history of his era and more a lengthy and interesting philosophical musing.