Justinian

Rating:
Summary: Nicely Written Tale of a Thoroughly Unengaging Character!
Review: Nicely written, to be sure, but this book never caught fire for me, perhaps because of its decidedly unsympathetic protagonist, the Roman emperor of Byzantium, Justinian II (Rhinometus -- for the "nose-cut"). Mutilated by having his nose slit or cut in some unspecified fashion by his enemies when he was overthrown after a stint as emperor of the Bysantines, this self-absorbed, albeit reasonably intelligent, tyrant managed an almost unheard of second shot at the Imperial throne -- only to cast that away as well by inspiring his subjects to a second revolt because of his excesses and unremitting cruelty. Certainly a tough character to render sympathetically. And that, I think, is what ultimately did in an otherwise well written novel. Although the prose is sharp and the voice mostly "true," the book still doesn't really get off the ground. Turtletaub did not attempt to create a novel solely from the perspective of the period, as Robert Graves did with his Count Belisarius, but rather to evoke a "modern" voice which might have been, had the writing and speaking conventions of the times matched our own vernacular. But even this nicely managed artifice (and he does pull it off) cannot save a tale which revolves entirely around so unpleasant and thick-headed a fellow as this Justinian seems to have been. How can one want to read more about a fellow who savagely butchers those soldiers who remained by his side, during an unssuccessful battle, because most of their fellows went over to the enemy and thereby lost the day for him? Not something likely to inspire loyalty in one's followers nor sympathy in the audience reading about this exploit! Or the fellow who, returning to his throne, butchers the lackeys and hangers-on who accepted and served the men who overthrew him as they now accept and serve him! A man who spurns his own daughter because her mother died giving birth to her! A man who inflicts the most hideous tortures on those who overthrew him and who revels, with his wife, in this exercise of revenge and then goes off to bed with her for a pleasant night of love-making. Granted these are not unknown types in the world, but they are not the stuff of engaging tales or sympathy either. Justinian's affection for his barbarian bride and his grudging deference to his mother, or his hard times as a mutilated exile in the northern Byzantine trading town of Cherson, are hardly enough to make him a sufficiently engaging or sympathetic character to sustain this rather weary tale. Certainly it reflects an interesting historical time and place as well as a well-done effort to novelize such intriguing events. But it just doesn't cut it, no pun or fun with Justinian's lost nose intended. And I, for one, would have liked to see more of these Khazars, who are among the most enigmatic mysteries of this period in history. Certainly they played a mighty big role in Justinian's activities. And, apparently, went on to play an even bigger one in subsequent events. (See D. M. Dunlop).

Rating:
Summary: A book about a real tyrant
Review: The only reasons as to why I read this book was because of Mr. Turtledoves reputation as writer of fine literature. That and my love of the history of the Easter Roman Empire. Both reason's were amply rewarded by this book.
It just re enforces my gratitude to live in 21st Century America and not then & there. That and to Thank God for our Founding Fathers for having established the Republic.
In that Justinian was a very evil & self centered man who lived in a very hard time & place. Altogether He was an adventurer of the worst kind who left a wake of death destruction where ever he went.

Rating:
Summary: Also, it is humorous.
Review: The other reviewers neglected to tell you that this is a very humorous book. It is a wry humor, because most of it is in first person narrative and you laugh at Justinian's fantastic misfortunes even while he is bearing up under them. There are anecdotes such as Justinian's observations on executioners being very conservative in their professional habits where there remains no alternative but to laugh, the incongruity is so great. Perhaps funniest of all is the later episode of his exile across the Black Sea, where Justinian finds life complicated with no nose.

Turtletaub acknowledges the debt to Gore Vidal's Julian, but this book is ten times funnier AND includes Vidal's one humorous indulgence, so definitely get this one.