Hi all! I am looking for the best biography you know, from an academic and literary perspective, on the roman emperor Hadrian. I know all the inherent limits to the biographical genre, and I find particularly hard to identify a good, serious biography, since the genre is cluttered by cheap and sensationalist books.
I recently reread the Mémoires d'Hadrien by Marguerite Yourcenar, a book I love, but it is mostly a historical novel and I wished to broaden my perspective on the man. Thanks in advance!
You're right that good biographies of ancient people can be difficult to find, but luckily I can think of a few for you! I would reccomend Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome by Anthony Everitt for an introductory (but scholarly) overview of Hadrian's life and reign. If you're looking for something a little more in-depth and academic, Hadrian: The Restless Emperor by Anthony Birley is a great one. It's dense, but still accessible. Both are solid books on the topic! I also suggest you take a look at Following Hadrian by Elizabeth Speller if you're wanting something in between the two. Out of the three, I find it reads the most like a novel as opposed to a textbook while still being academic.
If you've read Yourcenar, I'm sure you're familiar with Antinous and his relationship with Hadrian. If you're interested in a deeper look at that angle, I can't reccomend enough Beloved and God by Royston Lambert! It's a wonderful book, and I've relied on it heavily for my Master's thesis.
I hope this helps!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0195176138/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_Zcu2EbE0N18H0
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/beloved-and-god_royston-lambert/418162/#isbn=0670157082