A trusted member of the Byzantine establishment, Procopius was the Empire's official chronicler, and his "History of the Wars of Justinian" proclaimed the strength and wisdom of the Emperor's reign. Yet all the while the dutiful scribe was working on a very different - and dangerous - history to be published only once its author was safely in his grave. "The Secret History" portrays the 'great lawgiver' Justinian as a rampant king of corruption and tyranny, the Empress Theodora as a sorceress and whore, and the brilliant general Belisarius as the pliable dupe of his scheming wife Antonina. Magnificently hyperbolic and highly opinionated, "The Secret History" is a work of explosive energy, depicting holy Byzantium as a hell of murder and misrule.
The Secret History (Penguin Classics)
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From the Back Cover
The last major ancient historian, Byzantine scholar PROCOPIUS OF CAESAREA (c. 500-565) traveled with the army of Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I as a military adviser, and published his accounts of the wars the emperor fought in his eight-volume History of the Wars.
But what was the real story of life with Justinian, his wife, Theodora, and Justinian's greatest general, Belisarius? Procopius' Secret History was so scandalous that he withheld it during his lifetime, and in fact, it was not published until 1623. In this 1927 translation by RICHARD ATWATER (1892-1998), considered the best available, Procopius gives us all the scoop on:
* how the great general Belisarius was hoodwinked by his wife * how Theodora humiliated the conqueror of Africa and Italy * how Justinian created a new law permitting him to marry a courtesan * Justinian and Theodora: fiends in human form * the deceptive affability and piety of a tyrant * what happened to those who fell out of favor with Theodora * and much more.
An enthralling read, this curio of ancient history will fascinate anyone interested in tales of royal intrigue. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
About the Author
G.A. Williamson was born in 1895 and was a Classical Exhibitioner at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating with a First Class Honours degree. He was Senior Classics Master at Norwich School from 1922 to 1960. He also translated Josephus: The Jewish War (1959) and Procopius: The Secret History (1966) for the Penguin Classics. He died in 1982.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a good translation of Procopius most controversial opus, by G.A.Williamson, Senior Master of Classics at Norwich School (from 1922 to 1960). Whilst The Histories and Buildings are recognized as Procopius politically correct works, The Secret History tells a stunning tale of greed, corruption and destruction under Justinian and Theodora's empire.
Undoubtedly Procopius (A.D. 500?-565) was a qualified witness (having been private secretary to the greatest of Byzantium generals, Belisarius), although modern historians are at odds with the contradictions between what he wrote before and after this History, and still wonder what true motivations lie at the bottom of this work. But in my opinion, for anyone interested in a different , more private, assessment of Justinian and Theodora's deeds and character, this is a book that requires to be read. With caution, but with interest.
The architect of the Corpus Juris Civilis, the Codex Constructionum and the Digest, normally viewed as a "great conqueror, a great lawgiver, a great diplomat, and a great builder" (J.B. Bury) is screened in its defects by the author. The History mainly revolves around Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius and Antonina, their deeds, defects and personal motivations.
Justinian is portraited as a man of infinite greed and vicious cruelty. Theodora is exposed as a harlot, with a mind perpetually fixed upon inhumanity, constantly meddling in the affairs of the state.........
But let's not spoil the juicy tidbits. Let me just say that after one sorts out the mess created by this book, a more clear picture of the causes of the demise of the Roman Empire, the workings of the Imperial Court under Justinian and corruption of the mores will remain.
Undoubtedly Procopius (A.D. 500?-565) was a qualified witness (having been private secretary to the greatest of Byzantium generals, Belisarius), although modern historians are at odds with the contradictions between what he wrote before and after this History, and still wonder what true motivations lie at the bottom of this work. But in my opinion, for anyone interested in a different , more private, assessment of Justinian and Theodora's deeds and character, this is a book that requires to be read. With caution, but with interest.
The architect of the Corpus Juris Civilis, the Codex Constructionum and the Digest, normally viewed as a "great conqueror, a great lawgiver, a great diplomat, and a great builder" (J.B. Bury) is screened in its defects by the author. The History mainly revolves around Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius and Antonina, their deeds, defects and personal motivations.
Justinian is portraited as a man of infinite greed and vicious cruelty. Theodora is exposed as a harlot, with a mind perpetually fixed upon inhumanity, constantly meddling in the affairs of the state.........
But let's not spoil the juicy tidbits. Let me just say that after one sorts out the mess created by this book, a more clear picture of the causes of the demise of the Roman Empire, the workings of the Imperial Court under Justinian and corruption of the mores will remain.
46 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
OK, so maybe that's an exaggeration. Procopius' penchant for dishing out the dirt is one of the reasons, however, that this is probably the most "readable" of Byzantine texts for modern audiences. He absolutely skewers Theodora, recounting her rise from child prostitute, circus performer and all-around besotted, depraved, licentious harlot to Empress of the Roman Empire. This is the primary reason this is the SECRET history, else Procopius would have ended up like Boethius.
Though Theodora was Procopius's primary target for vitriol, none of the personages who graced Justinian's court come off smelling so great. Justinian's most celebrated general, Belisarius (whom Procopius accompanied in several campaigns), comes across as kind of a good natured boob, whom Theodora easily tricks. Justinian himself is nowhere near the paragon Procopius depicted him as in his "official" history. When Justinian isn't scheming or engaged in petty retributions, he is basically passive, letting his wife run the show.
However interesting numerous passages are throughout the Secret History (P's recounting of the Plague that wiped out most of Constantinople in 542 AD, for instance), what it boils down to are the juicy parts. Who can say how many Latin scholars through the ages have turned to Procopius when they felt the need for a little titillation? Though the shock value has definitely diminished as far as our "modern" sensibilities are concerned, it's still some pretty heady stuff. I mean, Theodora makes Catherine the Great look like Mother Theresa, by comparison.
Yes, Procopius' official histories (eight books on military campaigns and five books on architecture) are perhaps of more merit to Byzantine scholars. In terms of enjoyable reading, however, this is definitely the place to start.
BK
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Procopius is certainly biased against his subjects, but if even a fraction of what he writes in here is true then he had good reason to be. Of the major persons in his book, only Belisarius emerges as a sympathetic figure, honest and loyal, but terribly wronged against by his wife and his emperor. Theodora comes out as a power-hungry whore, and Justinian as an amoral money-grubber. In his zeal Procopius sometimes carries it too far though, like when he reports with a straight face rumors that Justinian was some kind of shape-shifting demon.
We tend to think of the accomplishments of Justinian - the law codifications, the reconquest of Italy, his grand architectural projects - but what price glory? In order to finance such contructions as the Hagia Sophia for posterity, he imposed miserably on his subjects, confiscating lands, wealth, ruining lives. While marveling at such accomplishments, we forget that in order to finance them Justinian refused the most basic needs of his citizens, like neglecting to fix a damaged aquaduct in Byzantium which created a great water shortage for his people. And Procopius's book is valuable because it shows that other side of the coin.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The Anecdota, or Secret History, is undoubtedly the most colourful contemporary source of Byzantine history. People tend not to appreciate Procopius as much as I think they should: barring Michael Psellus and Liudprand, and maybe the Alexiad, Procopius is about the only talented writer to take on a history of the Byzantine Empire. The Anecdota is full of bawdy and outrageously libellious stories about Justinian and Theodora, undoubtedly many of them gathered at taverns over many drinks and gossip. However ridiculous, and hilarious, the account may seem, it gives us a valuable impression of the characters of Justinian and his wife. Those famous mosaics in Ravenna, picturing Justinian as the ancestor of the modern day couch potato and his wife as a decadent and domineering witch, are certainly vindicated artistically by this work.
I'm a little disappointed at Penguin Classics. The Secret History is a fine work, but more valuable is Procopius's History of the Wars (the Gothic Wars), which would've made a better addition to the Penguin collection (at least an abridgement). Procopius's eloquent work on contemporary buildings is another that would've been a good pick.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Scholerly and boring history.
I know this review is going to get some flak from historians out there who will likely remind me of the importance of reading history from sources who enjoyed a firsthand view of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bob Jarvis
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read.
In a nutshell, if you want to see how tings really were during this time period I would read this book. The times were dark, and a king acted in a way one should not have. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kevin Saitta
5.0 out of 5 stars
How truthful is this account?
So, is this a completely accurate account or not
Certainly worth the 2 hours to read
But you will need to go further
Certainly worth the 2 hours to read
But you will need to go further
Published 5 months ago by JUSTINIAN
5.0 out of 5 stars
Byzantine indeed
The Secret History is, according to Procopius' own introduction, the key to his monumental Wars, which provide a classicising account of Justinian's reign up to AD 553. Read more
Published on January 26, 2011 by reader 451
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't kill the messenger
This is all the good stuff that I was disappointed not to find in "The Twelve Caesars: The Lives of the Roman Emperors" by Suetonius. Read more
Published on October 5, 2010 by Paige Turner
3.0 out of 5 stars
A first-rate hatchet job
Of the few primary sources on the early Byzantine Empire, Procopius' account of the reign of Justinian and Theodora is more "tell-all scandal sheet" than a document of reliable... Read more
Published on April 19, 2008 by doc peterson
4.0 out of 5 stars
The most devastating character assassination ever written
In which an apparently loyal aide gets a mountain of bile off his chest and proves that no man is a hero to his private secretary ... Read more
Published on February 15, 2007 by Marshall Lord
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Trillion Victims of Justinian?
I actually read partway through G.A. Williamson's translation of The Secret History, then read H.B. Dewing's translation cover to cover. In either case, it's amusing reading. Read more
Published on March 20, 2006 by Colin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic gossip from Byzantine Empire.
The Secret History was a book written about the behind the scenes life of Emperor Justinian and his wife Empress Theodora. Read more
Published on July 3, 2005 by Joseph P. Ulibas
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing historically, humanitarian-ly and literarily
This is one of THE classic primary sources from the Byzantine empire. It was written by Procopius who was the emperor Justinian's offician chronicler. Read more
Published on April 30, 2005 by Frikle
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