Customer Reviews

Justinian

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

SF author Harry Turtledove had a utilitarian motive for publishing his first straight historical novel under a (not very opaque) pseudonym. Historical fiction (leaving aside Patrick O'Brian) doesn't sell very well. The author didn't want the bookstore chains' computers to see poor sales for a "Turtledove" title and promptly cut their orders for his future books.

Sales of "Justinian" may be further depressed by the fact (noted by many reviewers) that the protagonist is, from the modern point of view, detestable: cruel, arrogant and supremely confident that God is on his side. His courage, intelligence and genuine, albeit imperfectly realized, religious faith are buried beneath his vices.

The obstacle to making Justinian sympathetic is that the assumptions and prejudices of his age were vastly different from our own. An accurate portrait of _any_ Seventh Century man cannot avoid warts that repell us moderns (and we would probably be just as repulsive to them, if they could look at us). When the Seventh Century man was flawed even by the standards of his contemporaries, our feelings of revulsion are hard to control.

That is why most historical fiction dips its heroes and heroines in sugar. There is much to be said in favoring entertainment over truth, but it doesn't hurt to stifle our natural impulses and look truth straight in the eye now and then. "Justinian" certainly does that - and with a great deal of verve and verisimilitude, too.

In case you didn't know, H.N. Turtletaub is actually Harry Turtledove. Besides being one of the best and foremost science fiction/alternative "what-if" history writers of all time, Turtledove also happens to have a degree in Byzantine Studies. Whereas in the past Turtledove has utilized his knowledge of Eastern Roman --Byzantine-- history, giving us THESSALONICA and the excellent AGENT OF BYZANTIUM, as well as the VIDESSOS series which relied much on Byzantine elements, JUSTINIAN is his first historical novel about an historical figure in his proper time period minus any twists of fantasy.

This is a work of fiction written as an autobiography of the Emperor of the Romans, Justinian II (685-695/705-711). Turtledove gives no slack to Justinian, who very much deserves the term "anti-hero." Coming across as spiteful, arrogant, self-centered; Justinian's only admirable quality seems to be his determination to succeed, overcoming even the mutilation of his nose --traditionally a certain impediment to anyone ever attaining the title of emperor (basileus)-- and exile to return and reclaim his throne. This was a major feat and Turtledove uses this device to keep even those of us who are familiar with the emperor's historical fate engrossed in the story.

Since Justinian II was such an unsympathetic figure, Turtledove creates the likable character of Myakes, Justinian's personal bodyguard since boyhood. Turtledove breaks up Justinian's monologue, making it a manuscript which is being read to Myakes, now an old man who was blinded and living in a monastery, by a fellow monk. Myakes' interruptions and commentary throughout the reading add levity as well as passion to an otherwise cynical and vile narrative. Justinian's narcissistic ego rarely affords us a glimpse of the many popes, patriarchs, generals or just about anyone else he comes into contact with. Justinian is too consumed by his own self-image and ambitions to care about anyone else in his story. Myakes' passages help to better enhance and round out these people, as well as to tone down the self-aggrandizement and one-sided vision of the emperor himself.

I also appreciate the historian in Turtledove for accurately presenting the so-called "Byzantine Empire" as the legitimate continuation of the Roman Empire and to show Western readers that it was Constantinople that truly saved Europe from the Arab/Muslim advance (until 1453 when the Turks conquered the city and finally brought to an end the line of the Roman Emperors).

Justinian, the emperor, was not a nice man. Vain and self indulgent, he was overthrown and sent into exile. And while the reader may feel that he has gotten his due, this is only the first part of the story. The real fascinating part of the book is watching him plot and then execute his return to power. The reader will not identify with this character but can't help but be drawn in by his long term revenge plotting. What finally happens to him I will leave for the reader to discover, but the journey we take with this man, from childhood to his bitter end, is richly detailed and plotted, and will keep the reader entrhalled.

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).

SWM
author of The King of Vinland's Saga

H.N. Turteltaub succeeds wonderfully in bring to life a distant and unfamiliar period of history is nonetheless vital in understanding our modern world (You cannot the Conflicts in the Balkans and the entire Middle East are directly attributable to the Byzantine Empire.)

More than that, Mr. Turteltaub (a pseudonym for Harry Turtledove) illuminates a dark period of history but at the same time tells a gripping story. While perhaps a bit heavy on the love scenes, the Constantinople of Justinian II comes alive as the most glorious and splendrous empire in the Middle Ages.

While I cannot vouch with utter certainty for the historical accuracy of Justinian, Mr. Turtletaub is honest about the narrative choices he makes.

This book covers the live of Justinian II, the last of his dynasty -- and given his obsession with revenge, not surprisingly! Turtletaub has made a blood-mad Byzantine emperor live as a human being, brilliantly showing how the isolation of the throne and absolute power, combined with great ability and a driving will, bring about Justinian's decline into solipsistic madness.

A rousing good read, with battle, treachery, intrigue, and exotic settings vividly and accurately described. "Justinian" is worthy of comparison with Grave's "Count Belisarius"!

The story of Justinian II, Emperor of the Romans, is done justice here and makes for one great epic.
Turtletaub is better known as sci-fi writer, Harry Turtledove.
This book should interest anyone who is interested in the Byzantine Empire, the Early Middle Ages, or just anyone who likes a good story centered around a self-important mean-spitit who is consumed with a lust for power and revenge.

Justinian. Simply put, he became the man the Byzantines loved to hate. H.N. Turteltaub tells the poignant and fascinating tale of the boy destined to inherit the Eastern Roman Empire from his father, the Emperor Constantine. Justinian was born into a family legacy of empirical rule that had lasted over eighty years. During his reign he not only lost, but regained his throne while enduring a bitter journey that included great physical and mental trials which would ultimately shape the future of his empire and his lineage. An adeptly told tale of one man's aspiration to glory and power and, subsequently, his paranoid descent into dementia.

I would recommend Justinian to readers wishing to learn about the history and glory of the Byzantine Empire. It piqued my interest in the Byzantines and was a good segue into other detailed historical fiction (i.e. the Byzantium Trilogy by J. Norwich)

I have never read any of Harry Turtledove's works of alternative history because, as a history buff, I could never quite bring myself to spend time reading about "what might have been". I find "what was" more than entertaining enough. I regard historical fiction however - if it stays within known historical fact and only fictionalizes conversations, motives, and minor characters (and even then sparingly) - as different, more like pure history. So when I saw this book of apparent historical fiction by Turtledove, I was intrigued enough to try it. I'm glad I did. I found the book totally fascinating and extremely well-written. Of course, as I do with all historical fiction, I researched the subject enough to determine how faithful the author was to actual events. Although generally available reference works are somewhat light on Justinian II, everything I was able to find agreed perfectly with the book. The book totally absorbed every hour I didn't spend sleeping, eating, or working. Will I now turn to Turtledove's alternative history? I doubt it. But I sure hope he writes more historical fiction!

This book claims to be written by H.N.Turtletaub. While 'Turteltaub' does mean turtledove in German, I'd really like to know why Harry Turtledove decided to use a different name on this book. It is also a bit of a give-away when you turn into the book and read that the copyright for the book is held by one 'Harry Turtledove'.

As for the book itself, it wasn't up to the level of most of Harry Turtledove's works. He did a doctorate in Byzantine history, and the first novel (I think) that he published was about a world in which the Byzantine Empire had never fallen. He was going back to his roots in writing this book, and I wonder if it was a manuscript that had been lying around for a few years since his student days. As most of the other reviews mention, Justinina was a rather unpleasant chap, but I don't think this was the problem with the book. It seemed to lack the normal human touch that I've come to expect from this author. It reads rather too much like a description of the events, and I felt that the characterisations and motivations of the main characters were just too shallow. The fact that he chose to write this book as if it was a manuscript written by Justinian himself was the main problem. It prevented him telling the tales of other important characters, and while the occasional comments of his ex-body guard Myakes does fill in some gaps, I think Turtledove would have done better to forget this construction altogether and just write a novel of the life and times of Justinian II. Probably the worst comment I can make about this book was that it took me weeks to finish it because I would read a bit, get bored with it, go off and read something else, and then come back again for a bit more, etc. I would highly recommend this author though, and in particular 'Guns of the South', so don't write him off if this is the only book you have encountered by him.