Her life would be marked by scandal and suspicion, worship and adoration€¦
At the tender age of fourteen, Livia Drusilla overhears her father and fellow aristocrats plotting the assassination of Julius Caesar. Proving herself an astute confidante, she becomes her father€s chief political asset€"and reluctantly enters into an advantageous marriage to a prominent military officer. Her mother tells her, €œIt is possible for a woman to influence public affairs,€ reminding Livia that€"while she possesses a keen sense for the machinations of the Roman senate€"she must also remain patient and practical.
But patience and practicality disappear from Livia€s mind when she meets Caesar€s heir, Octavianus. At only eighteen, he displays both power and modesty. A young wife by that point, Livia finds herself drawn to the golden-haired boy. In time, his fortunes will rise as Livia€s family faces terrible danger. But her sharp intellect€"and her heart€"will lead Livia to make an unbelievable choice: one that will give her greater sway over Rome than she could have ever foreseen.
