The Dancing Bear [Import] [Hardcover]

Peter Dickinson (Author), David Smee (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz; New Ed edition (July 18, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575036508
• ISBN-13: 978-0575036505
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reprint Please !!!, June 10, 2010

By 

LME "The Discerning Viewer" (Central CA, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Dancing Bear (Hardcover)

This is an excellent work of fiction highlighting Byzantium (Constantinople) at the time of Emperor Justinian in 558 AD and includes travels in the near-east. The sections on the Holy Man, John, are an intriguing insight into another era. From the flyleaf "This thrilling adventure story is also a brilliant reconstruction of a past world in all its richness and variety."

This tale of the Byzantine world is extremely well-crafted, and one of the few available that does not get bogged down in political terminology and revolve primarily around warfare. There are some archaic terms, to be sure, but on the whole there are fewer than other books for this age about this time in history. It is eminently readable. I recommend this book for grades 5-12, with 7-10 being ideal. It is a fine read aloud for grades 3-8.