Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT SO HOLY AN EMPEROR ?, February 1, 2003
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.
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37 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Kitty Kelly of Byzantium, November 29, 2002
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
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Scandalous History from Belisarius's Secretary, May 24, 2002
By A Customer
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.
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