Repost Re: "Byzantine Literature Apologize in advance for this repost. I don't know if anyone got the original so I'm resending it. My mailer sent a most confusing return of mail so I don't know if everyone, noone or just some people on the list got it. If anyone got my original post or gets this one, please let me know. I've got to get a more reliable mail sender than AOL. There are a number of other Byzantine novels and short stories. Some of the ones I have collected are as follows: Duggan, Alfred, The Lady for Ransom (Weybright and Talley, 1953) This is set in the 11th century, narrated by a Norman mercenary of Roussel de Bailliol in Byzantine service and describes the actions immediately prior to, during and after the Battle of Manzikert. This is the only fictional book on Manzikert that I am aware of and the battle scenes are awesome. Very favorable attitude towards Byzantium. This is my second favorite Byzantine book. The character development is sparing (as with all Duggan books) but the writing is modern and the descriptive narration, powerful. Harrison, Frederic, Theophano, The Crusade of the Tenth Century (Harper & Brothers, 1904) My all time favorite Byzantine novel. This is it folks! 10th Century Byzantium at its glittering heights! The cast of characters includes Emperor Nikephoros Phokas, John Tzimiskes, Leo the Deacon, Emperor Rhomanus II, his Empress Theophano (hence the title), the Chamberlain Joseph Bringas and even Digenes Akritas! The novel begins in 956 AD and runs through the murder of Nikephoros in 969 AD. It runs the epic sweep of the 10th century Byzantine counterattack against Islam led by Nikephoros, first as Domestic and then as Emperor. The novel includes the reconquest of Crete and Cilicia, the attack on Aleppo and the taking of Antioch among others. This is truly epic stuff. The sweep of the action spans everything in the Mediterranean from embassies to the Kaliphate of Cordova, battles in Italy and intrigues in the Moslem courts. The attack on Crete alone is worth the price of admission. Great descriptions of the Byzantine army at its height in action against a variety of foes. This book is pro Byzantine. No apologies, no hesitation. The Byzantine good guys attack, and beat (mostly) the misguided, but usually honorable Moslems. The only real villain is, of course, that nasty old Theophano who plots against our hero, Nikephoros. The history is very good. Harrison must have used a copy of Leo the Deacon's history as his basis. Like Turtledove, he was a practicing Byzantine historian. The writing style is unfortunately, early 20th century and it's overly florid descriptions jar modern reading sensibilities and make some parts a tough read, but not to excess. (Personal note: I first read this novel as a student, while working the Harvard's Widener Library where there was a copy in the English Literature section. I spotted it by sheer chance while shelving books nearby. I made it one of my main intellectual pursuits thereafter to obtain my own copy. After 15 years of fruitless searching in used bookstores on two continents, I finally found my copy in a bookstore in my hometown of Boston. Finding it was as close to an intellectual orgasm as I've ever had. What a joy and triumph to successfully accomplish such a search. Interestingly enough, I saw a second copy, only two years later.) Holland, Cecelia, The Belt of Gold (Knoph, 1984) This novel is set in the reign of the Empress Irene around 800 AD. The hero is a Frankish nobleman visiting Constantinople. It is mostly a romance and intrigue novel with the Byantines portrayed as fairly decadent compared to our stalwart and bluff Frankish hero. As with all of Holland's works eminently readable and entertaing, nonetheless. Ennis, Micael, Byzantium (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989) Set in the early 11th Century after the death of Basil II, it chronicles the career of Harold Hardrada, the future Norse king as a Varangian in Byzantine service and his interactions with the various Byzantine factions in Constantinople. A lot of modern romance stuff, fortunately offset with some great battle action against Moslem pirates and Bulgar rebels. Crisp, modern writing style. Bradshaw, Gillian, The Bearkeepers Daughter (Houghton Mifflin, 1987) This is the story of Theodora in the 6th century, with her rumored son as the hero. Mostly a romance and intrigue book set in Constantinople, though there are some battle scenes. (We get to see Narses in action in an early battle of his career.) Bradshaw has a good modern style and is an easy read. One other note, Turtledove's Agent of Byzantium is not strictly historical. It is a "what-if" collection of short stories about a Byzantine agent of the Bureau of Barbarians set in the 14th century of a world where Mohammed, converted to Christianity and became one of the pillars of Byzantine society and as a result the Byzantine and Persian empires were never overthrown by Islam. Byzantium rules most of the Mediterranean and is in conflict with cross Danubian barbarians and Northern Europeans as well as the Persians. More later, Paul Georgian PaulByzan@aol.com [Submitted by: "Paul E. Georgian" <PaulByzan@AOL.COM> Sat, 19 Aug 1995 12:11:40 -0400] Up