Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13481 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-06
• Binding: Hardcover
• 416 pages

Philip Pullman
'I've been reading it with fascination. This most intriguing of empires is the best introduction to Byzantine history I've seen. I can say with absolute certainty that I shall steal from it several times.'

Jerry Brotton, Sunday Times
'Herrin has taken the brave decision to approach her subject thematically, choosing particular events, monuments and individuals through which to tell her story ... Rich and convincing ... a fascinating account.'

Economist
'She presents Byzantium as a vibrant, dynamic, cosmopolitan reality which somehow escaped the constraints of its official ideology.'

Customer Reviews

The death of a civilisation
I enjoyed reading this book, but as it drew to the end and the death of Constantine XI defending his city I realized what a loss of a civilisation, that it not taught about in our education systems.

BYZANTIUM: THE SURPRISING LIFE OF A MEDIEVAL EMPIRE
Nice to be in such august company when it comes to reviewing a book, especially when I find myself echoing the praise. I'll lay my cards on the table and confess to having studied Byzantine History and have continued a lifelong fascination and love of the subject. Trying to explain what drives that interest as Prof. Herrin found herself trying to do to two working men however, has always been difficult to get across to others to whom it is a blank area of knowledge.
I've nothing but praise for the way she has distilled her professional knowledge into one of the more approachable books on the subject that I have read. Not decrying other books which on the whole are written for readers with at least a basic knowledge of the subject, this by and large succeeds in casting light on what is perceived to be an esoteric subject.
The maps, illustrations and tables are an excellent aid for this primer which seeks to explain on their terms what made the Empire tick without spoon feeding you. It makes you, the reader, think.
Arranged thematically, Icons, Monasticism, Economics, Warfare, Eunuchs, the Imperial Court, relations with the West, the Slavs and the Moslems, the place of women in society, its structure covers the Empires chronology. What to the mdern mind are barbarous practices such as castration and mutilation are placed in context . It looks at those puzzling practices of icon worship and explains the intent. Reaction to pressures such as the rise of Islam and relations with the West and its missionary work to the Slavs are explained together as a whole rather than in isolation in a very readable manner.
I would heartily recommend it to the general reader who wishes to know more and part of me likes to think that somewhere that those two working men are sitting somewhere over a pint imagining light glinting off golden mosaics.

Sailing to Byzantium
Philip Pullman - of Dark Materials - has just written to me about Byzantium, the Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire, saying:

"This most intriguing of empires is depicted so vividly and so clearly - not only by means of the author's arrangement of subject-based chapters, but also because of her deep scholarship and unobtrusive style - that it's the best introduction to Byzantine history I've seen. I can say with absolute certainty that I shall steal from it several times."

Happy declaration of interest: Philip wrote to me because I live with the author. He gave permission for his words to be used. He does not know and hasn't met Judith - yet!