Livia--wife of the first Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, and mother of the second, Tiberius-- wielded extraordinary power at the center of Roman politics. In this biography of Livia, the first in English, Anthony Barrett sets aside the portrait of a cunning and sinister schemer to reveal Livia as a complex figure whose enduring political influence helped shape Roman government long after her death.

"An excellent biography of Livia-as appealing to the general reader as it is satisfying to the scholar."--Colin M. Wells, Trinity University, San Antonio

"In reading Anthony Barrett's biography of Livia, I not only learned about this remarkable woman, but also gained a meaningful appreciation of life and society in her time."--Howard Alper, President, The Royal Society of Canada

"First-rate."--Mary Beard, Times Literary Supplement