Minerva Alumni Book Review: "Purple is the Noblest Shroud” by Li-Lian Ang

In our Alumni Book Review Series, Mira, Class of 2025, will be digging into alumni-written works and then interviewing the authors. The aim of this series is to encourage others in the community to delve into the literary creations of Minerva alumni.

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It is the year 527, in the spacious halls of the Byzantine palace, amidst the splendor of Constantinople's grandeur, a momentous event unfolds—the coronation of Theodora, Empress of the Byzantine Empire. With solemn reverence, she ascends the marble steps to the throne, her presence commanding the attention of the nobility. The air vibrates with the resonance of ceremonial chants as the imperial diadem is carefully placed upon her brow. This moment, marking Theodora's ascension, is a pivotal one in history, a testament to her resilience and indomitable spirit. Yet, the story of her rise to power is obscured by history—a tale of a woman who defied the constraints of her era and rose from humble origins to gain independence. In Li-Lian Ang's novel, Purple is the Noblest Shroud, Theodora emerges from the shadows of obscurity, her story brought to life with breathtaking detail and imagination.

Li-Lian's interest in Theodora’s story began unexpectedly while watching a YouTube video about Emperor Justinian. She was intrigued by Theodora’s remarkable rise to power— a surprising path given her humble beginnings as an actress in a society where laws prohibited actresses from marrying outside their rank, and her family's deep poverty. The unlikely love story that intertwined Theodora’s fate with Justinian’s captivated Li-Lian. She found herself deeply intrigued by their partnership, wondering, “Why does [Justinian] love her so much? What was so amazing about this person that he would marry her and never remarry even though she never produced any heirs and it was extremely disadvantageous to him?” This curiosity fueled her research into Theodora's mysterious past.

Li-Lian's approach to writing Purple is the Noblest Shroud involved meticulous research to authentically depict the period, from the architecture of Constantinople to the intricate textiles worn by its people. “I tried to make the book’s setting as historically accurate as possible. It was crazy how much I had to read to figure out what clothes people wore. What did buildings look like? What did people eat? How did they perceive time? How did they travel? notes Li-Lian. Theodora’s early life, on the contrary, is scantily documented in historical texts which allowed Li-Lian the freedom to explore the empress's inner world, “Her early life is not recorded at all. I know that some sources say she has a child, or maybe two, but what was going through her mind? What was she thinking? How did she end up going back to Constantinople?” These gaps in the historical records prompted Li-Lian to craft responses that not only fill in the blanks of Theodora's story but also highlight her resilience and autonomy, drawing a vivid picture of her formidable spirit.

To ensure her portrayal of Theodora was both accurate and evocative, Li-Lian collaborated with experts in Byzantine history. She sought the expertise of Professor Ostrow and several other specialists on the period from different universities. After completing her extensive research and organizing her thoughts into a coherent plan, Li-Lian faced what she described as one of the most daunting stages of her project. “I had the skeleton of what the book was supposed to be from start to finish and a crazy mind map of five or six A4 papers. And when I finished that, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I have a book. I just need to put in the words.’” she recalls. While Li-Lian was isolated in a hotel room in Malaysia during the pandemic, she committed to an ambitious goal: writing 5,000 words each day. This allowed her to finish the first draft.

The book’s meticulous fusion of history and narrative challenges the reader to reflect on the untold stories of women throughout history and their independence. Li-Lian hopes that her depiction of Theodora’s life not only illuminates a pivotal era in the Byzantine Empire but also inspires readers to consider the complexities behind historical figures often reduced to mere footnotes. Purple is the Noblest Shroud is more than just a story; it is an invitation to explore the confluence of power, gender, and destiny in one of history's most enigmatic empires.

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