The Life and Times of Constantine the Great: The First Christian Emperor [Paperback]

D. G. Kousoulas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1997

This is an enriched biography of Constantine the Great. Without compromising historical accuracy, it brings before the eyes of the reader as vividly as possible Constantine's fascinating life, filling in the gaps by exploring the ancient records in Greek and Latin and the findings of modern scholarship, reconstructing events or offering explanations to ancient riddles. It is astonishing how little the broad public in the West knows about Constantine. Yet, he is the man who gave a new direction to world history. One may wonder if Christianity would have survived if he had not embraced it with his imperial authority. Constantine's impact on our world is not the only reason for reading his story. His life is so rich in drama. excitement, tragedy, violence, intrigue and high adventure that the story can be as engrossing as a good work of fiction. "Prof. Kousoulas is a master story-teller."

Editorial Reviews

Review

...fascinating, filled with dramatic details..lucid... -- Henry J. Ferry, Mediterranean Quarterly, Winter 1999fterly

Kousulas has great storytelling abilities, making the volume's 500 pages fly by like 50 -- C.N.Kolitsas, Greek American Book Review, May 30, 1998

One of the most detailed and intimate life stories of the man who ushered in the Christian era... -- C. DePaola, The National Herald, February 12, 1999

From the Author

The accurate but also vivid presentation of Constantine's life was made possible with the extensive use of the original sources in Latin and fourth century Greek. Several books have been written about Constantine and the late Roman Empire but most were written for scholars and readers with a special interest in the period. This biography is written for the general public because Constantine deserves to be more widely known.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 511 pages
• Publisher: Rutledge Books, Inc.; 2nd edition (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887750614
• ISBN-13: 978-1887750615
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,346,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars remarkable, December 9, 2006

By 

R Smith "R Smith" (chicago, il) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life and Times of Constantine the Great: The First Christian Emperor (Paperback)

This history writing at its best. Simply put, it is one of the best history books I have ever read (and I have read hundreds). It is an easy read and written in the narrative style.

Unfortunately, learning about a subject is not what every reader is looking for, as evidenced by the comments of the reviewer who gave this book one star. I am always baffled when people criticize a product or book for doing exactly what it states it will do. Kousoulas cleary says in the beginning of the book that this biography is meant for the masses, intentionally not scholarly (more on that in a moment), and that the reader should look elsewhere for a more in-depth and "scholarly" treatment of the subject. Yet, the reviewer gives the author one star for DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE AUTHOR SAYS IS HIS INTENT. It is like criticizing a refrigerator for not heating your food or an automobile for not flying.

If I want a giant thousand-page, multi-volume opus about Constantine filled with footnotes, is intentionally written in an obscure venacular, and can devote several months to the book, I will buy it. But, as a person who must work, has multiple interests, and is curious about history, I simply do not have the time to devote to the type of book described in the last sentence, which is why Kousoulas' book is perfect. The one-star review is unwarranted and undeserved.

If you want an obscure book written in an obtuse style, written not for people to learn about the subject but to impress other professor colleagues, than this book is not for you. Learning has never been on the agenda of the people who teach in research universities anyway, as evidenced by the poor knowledge of history by most Americans. If you are interested in learning about Constantine, and want to have fun while doing it (people learn more when having fun, by the way), than this book is for you. Throw your college textbook away and pick this up.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Story, January 10, 2008

By 

Dr. Kirk H. Kinney - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Life and Times of Constantine the Great (Paperback)

This is history writing at its best. I had read in the past other books on Constantine, including Burckhardt, and I can say that Kousoulas takes a page in history - a subject many find dry and even boring - and breaths life into it. This book shows that extensive research into the life of a towering historical figure does not prevent a capable author from writing a fascinating story that an ordinary reader can enjoy while learning at the same time. For anyone interested in Constantine the Great and the time when human history took a new direction, this is the book to read. The author writes with equal candor and intimate detail about Constantine's accomplishments and his acts of cruelty, but also about the men and women in his life, not as cardboard characters but as human beings with their own virtues and foibles.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Constantine The Great, February 23, 2006

By 

Linda Mchenry (Craigville, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Life and Times of Constantine the Great: The First Christian Emperor (Paperback)

An important book, "Constantine the Great" is a concise history about the first Emperor to legalize Christianity after a three-hundred-year struggle for survival. D.G. Kousoulas brings into focus the diversity of religious culture and political intrigue that helped to shape Christianity's long standing tradition and doctrinal values. The figure of Constantine is carefully portrayed in the mutifaceted aspects of his ever changing family, political, and social world. Individual chapters grant the reader a well-focused account of specific events without distraction or confusion. D.G. Kousoulas bases his findings on well documented facts without appology for any of history's blank pages. Rather, he uses them to enhance the reader's sense of involvement in the making of history. Also, Kousoulas' gentle narrative style was a refreshing, much appreciated change of pace, the likes of which I hope to see more of in the future.