A great novel that brings to life the tragic love affair of Antinous and Hadrian during the Roman Empire.
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Eromenos is a perfect example of why historical fiction is important. Having never heard of Antinous, even in my self-induced and dedicated study of all things historical, I learned of an intimate aspect of the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian. And so the crucial aspect of historical fiction is fulfilled. Attracting lay persons (although I wouldn't consider myself a lay person by any means) to history and historical subjects. Not only was the very fact of Antinous's existence in history brought to my attention, but also the ritual of the October Horse and the study of lycanthropy, the former of which I had heard in passing and the latter, of which I had no idea its study extended as far back as antiquity. This, in my opinion, is the unique responsibility of historical fiction. To interest the reader in the further investigation of a time, place, and persons in history.

Not only do we get the fulfillment mentioned above in Eromenos, but we also get an idea of the culture of ancient Rome. Homosexuality was known and accepted, although it seemed tolerated among the patricians, yet frowned upon among the lower classes. I refer to Antinous's passing encounter with a farm boy who seems to judge Antinous's lifestyle disdainfully with one knowing glance. What I found most interesting in the story of Antinous was the fact that, despite his high status as Hadrian's 'favorite', he always had to keep in the back of his mind that one day he would be put aside for someone new, someone younger. Quite sad was that, upon losing his inheritance, he knew he would have no options in society after his favored status was lost. He did not believe truly that Hadrian loved him and, in truth had very ambiguous feelings toward Hadrian himself. A sad realization for us to find out that Hadrian would mourn him so fervently after his death. Perhaps Hadrian would not have put him aside, if we look at his grief as evidence of his true love for Antinous.

Eromenos gives us the tragic story of a boy who was not given much choice in life. We see the fact that once the Emperor sets his favor upon a person, then he must obey, as this royal favor is considered an honor and the knowledge of this is taught early on. A refusal would bring dishonor to the person's family and this was unacceptable in Roman society. In the end, Antinous takes control of his destiny. The result leaves a feeling of sadness and yet, elation for his triumph. In this short book, Ms. McDonald has succeeded in telling us an engaging story while whetting the appetite for historical investigation. ( )

Carefully researched and meticulously crafted, this is a story that grabbed my attention from word one, and which refused to relinquish that hold, keeping me in thrall until I had finished every word. This is historical fiction at its finest, honest and open about its subject matter, and straightforward in its telling, with no colouring of events from a contemporary narrator.

On one level, this a simple coming of age tale, taking us through the live (and death) of Antinous. We follow him on a journey across both landscapes and classes, from one end of the known world to another, and from humble beginnings to the highest of callings. Much of the power of the story is derived from his strength of character, his understanding of his situation, and his self-awareness. Although he is deliciously naive about his place in Hadrian's affections, to start, Antinous proves himself to be a quick study. It would be all to easy to paint a concubine (or eromenos) as a victim, or as an opportunist, Melanie wisely avoids that temptation. Rather than judge him, or cast a moral shadow upon from contemporary times, she allows his story to be told in the context of the times.

Of course, a significant aspect of that classical morality is the lack of judgement regarding homosexuality. More than that, it's the accepted role it played in the class and customs of the time. I found it refreshing to read the story of a young man who feels no shame over his attraction to his fellow students, and no embarrassment for his awestruck affections of the Emperor himself. As a young man, he has a role to play in the affairs of state, and his place at Hadrian's side has considerable precedent.

As for Hadrian, I think Melanie cast him perfectly, portraying him as a human being, rather than some perfect archetype. He can be capricious and cruel at times, but also warm and friendly at others. Although owed respect by his role as Emperor, we see that much of that respect is earned honestly, awarded to him by friends and servants by virtue of his words and his actions. His relationship with Antinous is complex, being a father figure, a best friend, a teacher, a lover, and (somewhat guardedly) a love. There's real emotion between the two, but it's a love that's haunted by the knowledge that it's only acceptable until Antinous reaches a certain age, at which time he must be cast aside.

The historical and geographical details here are as fascinating as they are diverse, introducing (or reminding) us of the most interesting aspects of the classical word, once again seen through the eyes of those who lived it. The aspects of the story relating to Antinous' attitude towards the new religion, Christianity, struck me as oddly amusing, while his faith in the stories of Greek mythology came across as genuine and commendable.

For those who may be put off by the thought of a love story between man and boy, the sexuality is left largely off the page, and what little makes its way through is carefully worded and subdued. For those who are willing to accept that love, even if it's just in the context of the times, this is a remarkable story that is well-worth reading. The language is beautiful, the scenery jumps off the page, and I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a history lesson so much. Melanie has accomplished something masterful here, and it deserves to be widely-read . . . and enjoyed. ( )

Written by himself on successive evenings, this Bildungsroman traces the life of Antinous, Emperor Hadrian's Greek beloved: from Antinous's boyhood in Bithynia through the emperor's meeting him and the two becoming lovers. Then the seven years of their affair unfold until the final decision of Antinous to die, on their trip down the Nile. I enjoyed this haunting, bittersweet novel. Characterization was the strong point; I also got a flavor of the relationship between the two and a sense of life in the Roman Empire at that time: 100's A.D. The author presented a strong case for her own theories concerning the greater and lesser motivations for the youth's death; to this day scholars do not know for sure why he died and where exactly he is buried. [Some scholars feel he may be buried at Hadrian's villa.] Of course there are many theories. Hadrian's only words were: "he fell into the water", an ambiguous statement at best.

Well written, there was nothing graphic or gross in descriptions of any sexual situations. As the novel progressed, I felt more and more compassion for Antinous. The author created a marvelous story from the few bare facts we know about Antinous.

"These last four nights, while the Empire sleeps, I [Antinous] have assigned myself this confession. Any struggle must be resolved here upon these sheets, so the morrow holds nothing but acceptance, acquiescence, peace. With my lamp as witness I record my life until now. When I am finished, I must consign it all, save the final chapter, to the temple fire." From Antinous's opening and closing statements.
From Antinous's words herein. ( )

Melanie McDonald's novel about Hadrian and Antinous is a striking and uneven book and I imagine your opinion of it will vary depending on whether you've read Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian. I have read that and am very fond of it, and I am fully aware that it probably hampered my enjoyment of Eromenos, just as it must have overshadowed McDonald in writing it. The ambition behind the novel is commendable: McDonald tries to look beyond the serene face of Hadrian's adolescent favourite, immortalised in history in the statues commissioned by the emperor, and in fiction in Yourcenar's vision of a silent, contemplative and devoted companion. McDonald asks us to challenge this and to try to understand the emotions of a confused and indignant boy who has been forced to grow up too fast and flung into a world of envy and jealousy that gradually embitters him. The idea is fascinating. The execution is less successful. I can't talk about this without making comparisons to Yourcenar, so forgive me - and I am pretty sure that McDonald has read Yourcenar herself, so I think it's justifiable. Eromenos veers between the kind of elevated allusion and philosophy that you find in Yourcenar, and a livelier slightly cruder spirit which is certainly colourful but doesn't seem to fit in the same book. Similarly her characterisation of Antinous is a bit too inconsistent even for a teenage boy. And there is a distinct tendency to try to fit in all of McDonald's research, from myths to stories about Hadrian's life and general details about Roman culture. It is all a bit too much and the scene-setting details often appear in long lists of banquet foods or wine varieties or Egyptian deities - which weigh down the book and give it a staccato feel. Nevertheless, if this is a period you're interested in, you might find - as I did - that the questions raised by McDonald's exploration of Antinous' character make up for some of the technical weaknesses.

For a longer review, please see my blog:
http://theidlewoman.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/eromenos-melanie-mcdonald.html ( )