julia – Stephanie Dray

Why Do You Hate Ancient Romans So Much? (And Other Frequently Asked Questions)

February 23, 2012

A few years ago, I was enraptured by the life story of a nine year old Egyptian princess who was taken prisoner by the Romans, dragged through the streets in chains, and yet went on to be the most powerful Continue reading →

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The Roman Princess Diaries: Being the Daughter of Augustus

January 31, 2012

The star of my new novel, SONG OF THE NILE, is Cleopatra Selene. However, another young woman plays a very prominent role, and that is Julia, the daughter of Rome’s first emperor. Though their parents were mortal enemies, Continue reading →

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The Emotional Drama Behind Ancient Rome’s Theatre of Marcellus

December 1, 2011

Reproduction of the Theatre of Marcellus on the Banks of the Tiber River (courtesy of VRoma)

Ancient Rome was going to get a new theatre; this was never in any doubt. Julius Caesar acquired and cleared the land on the Continue reading →

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The Fashion World of Cleopatra Selene and the Augustan Age

April 25, 2011

Cleopatra VII of Egypt was the most fashionable woman in the ancient world. Like a modern day celebrity, she set the trends. During her visit to Rome, she made such a sensation that Roman matrons imitated her hairstyles. It’s hard Continue reading →

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Why Regency England Enthusiasts Should Love Augustan Age Rome

April 4, 2011

It may come as a surprise to most people, but the dominant historical setting in commercial fiction isn’t Tudor England. It’s Regency England–the godzilla of the romantic fiction world. I’d like to point out a surprising number of similarities between Continue reading →

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