SERVILIA AND HER FAMILY

This audiobook examining the life of Servilia, mother of Marcus Junius Brutus, is written by a classics scholar. As such, it poses challenges for listeners. First, the scope is fairly broad, covering dozens of lesser-known Romans whose names may be unfamiliar to a general audience. Second, despite much interesting data on the lives of Servilia, her relations, and the times in which they lived, there is a fair amount of additional historical material only loosely related to the main topic. The pacing of Lucy Rayner's narration allows listeners to take in intriguing information, such as the affair between Servilia and Julius Caesar. Overall, Rayner's melodious voice and clear diction serve listeners well. Nonetheless, listeners unfamiliar with this historical period may find themselves frustrated by this work. M.J. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2019]