Publishers Weekly
08/14/2023
In this comprehensive account, Cambridge University historian Sarris (Empires of Faith) examines the reign of Eastern Roman emperor Justinian (482–565). Following his adoptive father Justin’s death in 527, Justinian took charge of an empire beset with troubles, including an ongoing war with Persia, military uprisings in Africa and Italy, and growing orthodoxy among Christians that led to religious animus toward non-Christians. With political and military skill, Justinian transformed the empire, cementing his legacy through legislative and judicial reforms (including severe crackdowns on non-Christians), architectural achievements such as the Hagia Sophia, territorial expansion in Africa and Europe, and the reconquering of Rome. However, beginning around 540, the empire faced a series of setbacks, among them renewed war with Persia, famine resulting from volcanic eruptions, and plague. Following this period, Justinian faced searing public criticism and the loss of several valued advisers. In the years following Justinian’s reign, much of the Eastern Empire unraveled, but by the time of the Middle Ages, his memory was revered, and many medieval rulers looked to him as an example. By drawing heavily on contemporary sources and providing insightful interpretation of their veiled meanings, Sarris brings his subject’s world to vivid life. The result is a clear-eyed view of a complex historical figure and his times. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
A wonderfully vivid and fluent study.”—Wall Street Journal
“A majestic, sparkling account of one of the most important rulers in history. Meticulously researched, beautifully written, filled with insights, this is modern history writing at its finest.” —Peter Frankopan, New York Times-bestselling author of The Silk Roads
“Superb and gripping. Epic historical biography that brings the emperor to life with analysis and empathy and a work of scholarship filled with new ideas and revelations.” —Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times-bestselling author of The World
“An expert, readable and thought-provoking biography of Justinian…This book is essential reading for anyone curious about later antiquity, and it will give profit and pleasure to those with broader interests.”—London Review of Books
"Teases out…tensions and more in his new biography of Justinian, illuminating a central figure in a signal period in the history of the West.”—New Criterion
“In this comprehensive account…Sarris brings his subject’s world to vivid life. The result is a clear-eyed view of a complex historical figure and his times.” —Publishers Weekly
“Effortlessly erudite, lucidly written, with a sharp eye for the telling detail, Peter Sarris has written the great biography of the greatest of the Byzantine emperors.”
—Rory Stewart, New York Times–bestselling author of The Places in Between
“Justinian’s long life mirrored that of ancient Rome itself: Both rose from lowly origins to supreme power, survived revolt and conquered rivals, crafted laws, and erected mighty monuments, only to be worn down by insurgents, invaders, and plagues. In a stunning tour de force, Peter Sarris brings one of history’s most momentous dramas back to life.” —Walter Scheidel, author of The Great Leveler
“Justinian looms so large in the landscape of the ancient Mediterranean that it is almost impossible to take his measure. Yet Sarris has done so convincingly, offering a lucid and persuasive account of a ruler as invested in the mechanics of government as in waging wars of conquest. A remarkable achievement.” —Kate Cooper, author of Queens of a Fallen World
“Sarris’s Justinian is magnificent. A vivid and authoritative biography of one of Rome’s most fascinating rulers, Justinian is also a vibrant portrait of an entire world—a resurgent Roman Empire suddenly devastated by tragedy.” —Kyle Harper, author of The Fate of Rome
“Spectacularly good: a wonderfully colorful biography of the man who remade the Roman Empire. Sarris plunges us deep into a world of imperial conflict, religious paranoia, pandemics, and climate change while never losing sight of the extraordinary character at its heart. Based on decades of scholarship, this is the definitive history of the emperor and his times and a thrilling testament to the glories of Byzantium.” —Dominic Sandbrook, cohost of The Rest is History
“An important milestone in the study of Justinian and his time.”—Bryn Mawr Classical Review
DECEMBER 2023 - AudioFile
Mark Elstob is especially effective at narrating classical history, medieval fantasy, and complicated scientific and theoretical narratives. His deliberate pace, expressive diction, and carefully calibrated tone are invaluable to the listener who is less informed about subjects remote, specialized, or abstract. Those skills prove essential in this portrayal of the sixth-century Roman ruler Justinian, whose contradictions are summed up in this audiobook's subtitle: "Emperor, Soldier, Saint." Interestingly, Justian's challenges parallel many of today's leaders. Volcanic activity resulted in climate change. Migratory Huns and Vandals and the Persian superpower pressed the borders. And in the 540s, bubonic plague made its first foray into the West, upsetting the social and political order. There's much to reflect upon here, and this skilled narrator clarifies, enhances, and enriches. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
