Product Description

'He is brilliant ... He writes like the most cultivated modern diplomat attached by a freak of time to the Byzantine court, with intimate knowledge, tactful judgement and a consciousness of the surviving monuments' Independent In this exciting narrative history, John Julius Norwich, one of most accomplished popular historians, reveals the beginning of Byzantium. He tells of the five formative centuries of an empire that would enthral the western world for more than eleven hundred years.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21017 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 408 pages

About the Author
Born in 1929, John Julius Norwich served in the foreign office for twelve years before resigning in 1964 in order to write. His many publications include his two-book history published by Penguin in one volume entitled The Normans in Sicily; two travel books, Mount Athos (with Reresby Sitwell) and Sahara; The Architecture of Southern England; Glyndebourne; three anthologies of poetry and prose, Christmas Crackers, More Christmas Crackers and Still More Christmas Crackers; A History of Venice; and his three-volume history of the Byzantine empire of which this is the first, Byzantium: The Apogee is the second, and Byzantium: The Decline and Fall is the third. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, the Royal Geographical Society and the Society of Antiquaries, a Companion of the Royal Victorian Order and a Commendatore of the Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.

Customer Reviews

Byzantine History for everyone
Although I am not an expert, I have read numerous books on the subject of Byzantium, in Greek and in English, varying from school textbooks, to the widely accepted books of famous scholars like Vasiliev and Ostrogorski. I must admit that John Julius Norwich in his trilogy "Byzantium", is succesful in producing by far the most intriguing and "easy" byzantine history books that I have read. Once started, it is very diffcult to lay the book back on the table. This is partly due to the fascinating nature of Byzantine history, but also to the wonderful writing style of John Julius Norwich; he not only has a deep knowledge of the subject, but he is also a great writer. His book conveys the full scale of historical events and characters of the history of a christian empire born out of the ashes of the Roman state.
Founded in 330, a year that marks the glorious opening of the "city of cities", Constantinople, Byzantine history ends with the sacking and destruction of this very same city by the turkish hords in 1453, that has since stood on the Bosporus only to remind us of its past greatness. During its 1123 years, the empire progressed to an unforeseen glory and wealth in all aspects of human activity, and has laid the foundation of Europe and the Western civilization in general.
This first book covers the first four centuries, starting from the first Christian emperor, Constantine the Great, the founder of Constantinople, and ends with Irene the Athenian, that ruled in the East during the days of Charlemagne in the West.
Dates and important events are noted in the headers of every odd page, making random reference very easy. The book comes in its usual poor paperback quality.
If you decide to buy this book, which I personnaly strongly recommend, I believe that you'd better buy all three books of Norwich's "Byzantium" series together. They are definitely worth it.

A wonderful read
This is a wonderful book. Of course, this is so-called "popular history" and therefore - it is clearly stated in the foreword - it is not made for scholars and researches.

As far as the rest of the world, this is a highly readable account of the first centuries of the byzantine empire.

Norwich's style is addictive: a good balance between a synopsis of the available sources (which he seems to have studied quite well, by the way) and tasty anecdotes. Briefly, you won't put it away until you have finished it. Here events are mainly explained on the basis of individual motives, such as ambition, envy, skill, cruelty: like Cornelius Nepos did a few centuries ago.

Little description is given of the administrative and economic organisation of the empire, and theological debates (very important at the time) are also explained.

But still, if you want an enjoyable, beautifully written and serious history of the byzantine empire, buy this book.

A wonderful read
Norwich from the outset says that this book is not for academics - with that in mind we can settle down to a glorious read. The book is a fast paced easy to follow read and will enthrall new readers and students of Byzantium alike. Norwich's has a wonderful conversational tone and gives the feeling of a sly guide into this world. You feel his passion for the era and his juicy and scandalous gossip approach to controversial events or naughty titbits is briliant. This book cannot come with high enough praise - you will not be able to put it down - enjoy.