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Anna of Byzantium (Laurel-Leaf Books) Mass Market Paperback – Illustrated, October 10, 2000

by Tracy Barrett (Author)

117 ratings

Part of: Laurel-Leaf Books (13 books)

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For fans of Joan of Arc and Alexander the Great, comes "a gripping saga of alliances, intrigues, deceits, and treacheries" about Anna Comnena of the Byzantine Empire.

Anna Comnena has every reason to feel entitled. She's a princess, her father's firstborn and his chosen successor. Someday she expects to sit on the throne and rule the vast Byzantine Empire. So the birth of a baby brother doesn't perturb her. Nor do the "barbarians" from foreign lands, who think only a son should ascend to power. Anna is as dismissive of them as are her father and his most trusted adviser--his mother, a manipulative woman with whom Anna studies the art of diplomacy. Anna relishes her lessons, proving adept at checkmating opponents in swift moves of mental chess. But as she matures into a young woman, her arrogance and intelligence threaten her grandmother. Anna will be no one's puppet. Almost overnight, Anna sees her dreams of power wrenched from her and bestowed on her little brother. Bitter at the betrayal, Anna waits to avenge herself, and to seize what is rightfully hers.

Praise for Anna of Byzantium:
A Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
An ALA Quick Pick
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Booklist Top Ten Historical Fiction Pick

[STAR] "[Anna of Byzantium] involves readers in a gripping saga of alliances, intrigues, deceits, and treacheries worthy of a place among the tragic myths." — The Bulletin, Starred review

"In the tradition of E. L. Konigsburg's A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver and Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy comes this story of a real-life historical figure, Anna Commena, groomed to be the sovereign of the Byzantine empire…Barrett uses an effective first-person narrative to draw readers into Anna's story, and the author's precise use of detail helps re-create Anna's world, the palace of Constantinople in the ninth century. . . Readers will be caught up in…this exciting read."—Booklist, Boxed review

"A fascinating mix of history, mystery, and intrigue."-The Horn Book Magazine

"Barrett does a remarkable job of painting moods and emotions with spare, elegant sentences. . . This splendid novel about a neglected period of history is the perfect choice. . . Hard to imagine it being any better written." —VOYA

"This wonderfully engaging novel both entertains and serves as a lively history lesson with its well-researched background, dramatic plot and dimensional characters. Barrett's descriptive, engaging prose will draw readers into a fascinating historical time, filled with political intrigue and a complex, admirable teen protagonist who faces her changing future with an inspiring combination of heart and mind."— Wichita Eagle

Reading age

12 - 15 years
Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 - 9
Lexile measure

910L
Dimensions

4.19 x 0.58 x 6.88 inches
Publisher

Laurel Leaf
Publication date

October 10, 2000
ISBN-10

0440415365
ISBN-13

978-0440415367
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
An ALA Quick Pick
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Booklist Top Ten Historical Fiction Pick

[STAR] "[Anna of Byzantium] involves readers in a gripping saga of alliances, intrigues, deceits, and treacheries worthy of a place among the tragic myths." — The Bulletin, Starred review

"In the tradition of E. L. Konigsburg's A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver and Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy comes this story of a real-life historical figure, Anna Commena, groomed to be the sovereign of the Byzantine empire…Barrett uses an effective first-person narrative to draw readers into Anna's story, and the author's precise use of detail helps re-create Anna's world, the palace of Constantinople in the ninth century. . . Readers will be caught up in…this exciting read."—Booklist, Boxed review

"A fascinating mix of history, mystery, and intrigue."-The Horn Book Magazine

"Barrett does a remarkable job of painting moods and emotions with spare, elegant sentences. . . This splendid novel about a neglected period of history is the perfect choice. . . Hard to imagine it being any better written." —VOYA

"This wonderfully engaging novel both entertains and serves as a lively history lesson with its well-researched background, dramatic plot and dimensional characters. Barrett's descriptive, engaging prose will draw readers into a fascinating historical time, filled with political intrigue and a complex, admirable teen protagonist who faces her changing future with an inspiring combination of heart and mind."— Wichita Eagle

From the Inside Flap

Anna Comnena has every reason to feel entitled. She's a princess, her father's firstborn and his chosen successor. Someday she expects to sit on the throne and rule the vast Byzantine Empire. So the birth of a baby brother doesn't perturb her. Nor do the "barbarians" from foreign lands, who think only a son should ascend to power. Anna is as dismissive of them as are her father and his most trusted adviser--his mother, a manipulative woman with whom Anna studies the art of diplomacy. Anna relishes her lessons, proving adept at checkmating opponents in swift moves of mental chess. But as she matures into a young woman, her arrogance and intelligence threaten her grandmother. Anna will be no one's puppet. Almost overnight, Anna sees her dreams of power wrenched from her and bestowed on her little brother. Bitter at the betrayal, Anna waits to avenge herself, and to seize what is rightfully hers.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Laurel Leaf; Illustrated edition (October 10, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0440415365
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0440415367
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 15 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 910L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 0.58 x 6.88 inches

Customer Reviews:
117 ratings

About the author

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Tracy Barrett

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Tracy Barrett has written more than twenty books for children and young adults. She’s much too interested in too many things to stick to one genre, and has published nonfiction as well as historical fiction, mysteries, fantasy, time travel, myth and fairy-tale retellings, and contemporary realistic novels. She knows more about ancient Greece and Rome and the European Middle Ages than anyone really needs to know, can read lots of dead languages, and used to jump out of airplanes.

Tracy grew up near New York City, and went to college in New England and graduate school in California. She majored in Classics and earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Italian. She was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study medieval women writers and won the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Work-in-Progress Grant in 2005. She taught Italian and other subjects at Vanderbilt University for almost thirty years. She lives in Tennessee with her 6’7” husband (also a former skydiver), a rescue cat, and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Customer reviews

5 star		78%
4 star		13%
3 star		5%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

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Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2014

Verified Purchase

I don't normally read Young Adult literature, but I chose this book as part of a class assignment, as I enjoy historical fiction and haven't read anything from this area or time period.

I read this book in 3 hours! It was a very nice,easy read (for an adult) and I'm sure children would enjoy it. You really feel for Anna and what she is going through. There were parts of the story that were a bit weak but nothing that someone couldn't get through. There isn't a lot known from this period, but you learned most of the background information needed during the reading.

There are some historical inaccuracies, but the author addresses them at the end instead of trying to pass off her book as the truth. I understand why they're there- they simply wouldn't have fit with the story in the time frame necessary for her book.

SPOILERS BELOW

The only part that really upset me was the scene when we father made John his new heir. I felt that this scene was particularly sudden and weak. It would have been from Anna's point of view, but I still felt like the author should have developed this scene a bit more.

At the end, we are told that while we've hated John during the whole book, we're supposed to like him at the end because he became a great ruler who was loved by his people. It would have been nice to see SOME redeeming quality earlier in the book other than allowing Anna to go to a convent instead of killing her.

2 people found this helpful

I thought it was a great read! I'm looking for more situated in similar ...

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

I read this because it was assigned to my daughter to read for her 8th grade English class. I thought it was a great read! I'm looking for more situated in similar settings...for adult readers.

One person found this helpful

John F. Presley

Anna- Her Life and Times

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2015

Verified Purchase

Great inside look at Byzantium at the time of the Crusades and gives a different perspective of History than the usual Western view. Wish I had read this when working on my MA in Medieval history. Now reading Anna's ALEXIAD. enjoying her writing and getting to know her better.

Found this book cover on Ancestry.com as a hint when researching my family tree and found she was my 25th great aunt.

Tracy Barrett's style makes the book hard to put down and a most enjoyable read.

Very interesting read

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2019

Verified Purchase

Very interestingly historical, yet able to involve the reader in the lives of the characters. Definitely holds the interest if you like history

Sophia Kugeares

History's top rated women

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2013

Verified Purchase

Engaging historical account of one of Europe's high achieving women. Raised in a royal household to be a ruler, Anna was later imprisoned by her power hungry brother. Her confinement / Imprisonment in a convent gave her the opportunity to record her memories of her Emperor father Alexius Comenus. Historians have acknowledged Anna as one of the most important historians of her age and melieu.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

Good writing and excellent choice of subject material and historical detail. The book clearly should have been much longer. The end seems rushed and it would have been interesting to have a more detailed account of Anna's life axxx .. oh don't want to give the plot away away, The writing is strong enough that I definitely will be buying Barrett's next book.

One person found this helpful

Chad Daniel Kinnear

Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

I read this book to add to a lesson in World History class. I recommend it for 7th through 9th grade, but anyone would enjoy it. Especially if you like history. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope students will too.

One person found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2013

Verified Purchase

I was really disappointed in this novel; I tried to like it, but the protagonist was completely un-engaging and the plot gave me no hooks to want to keep reading. It seemed like it should have been a better book than it was, considering the author's command of language, but the actual story just wasn't there. No plot, no consequences, the whole story is already over by the time the book has started. Just a huge letdown.

One person found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

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Anna Buttimore

The book club enjoyed it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2018

Verified Purchase

We read this at our book club, and felt there was very good characterisation and character growth for a children's book. Most of the "action" happens in the second half of the book, so stick with it. It stays with you, and gives you a lot to think about. Was Anna better off where she ended up? Was her depiction of John correct given what we learn of him later - and in history? What do we make of her friendship with Sophia? We all utterly hated the toxic grandmother, but ultimately it was a feel-good book, and we scored it 7/10 (which is good for us - we're usually pretty harsh.)

The Editor

Too short!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2013

Verified Purchase

I wanted more details! What happens at the end? The story just kind of trickles off without giving you more information. Was disappointed at how short the book was. That's the problem with e-books... you get no sense of spine size when you buy them!

Snapdragon

Very good version of the life of Anna

Reviewed in Australia on September 6, 2020

Verified Purchase

Tracey Barrett has created an extremely competent reconstruction of the life of this Byzantine princess in the Middle Ages. She writes in the first person from Anna’s point of view, starting with her exile to a mountain convent at the age of 17, and reflecting on her imperial childhood and the events that led her there. She grew up expecting to rule, learning different skill sets and attitudes from two warring women: her mother and her paternal grandmother. However, she was set aside in favour of her brother John, for whom she had absolutely no respect, though in the epilogue Barrett says he actually became quite a beloved emperor. Barrett has changed history - as she says - by leaving out Anna’s marriage to soldier historian Nicophorus and the births of their children. Anna is famous among historians for the Alexiad, her 11 volume history of her father’s reign, a prime source of information about the period. This is a very useful book for understanding Anna and her period from an author who obviously has a good understanding of the times.

Amazon Customer

中世の知的な皇女の半生

Reviewed in Japan on August 31, 2004

Verified Purchase

　ビザンチン帝国（東ローマ帝国）の皇帝の世継ぎの皇女として生まれたAnna Comnena (1083-1153)
の物語です。この当時戦争で不在がちの皇帝に代わって実権を握っていたのは、皇太后Anna
Dalassenaでした。祖母に見込まれ将来の女帝として育てられた知的で勝気なAnnaが、宮廷内での
権力争いに巻き込まれていく様子にハラハラドキドキします。
Annaが一人称で物語るためか、皇太后Anna Dalassena以外のの登場人物が弱いです。
また、児童書ということもあってか淡白な感じがします。

One person found this helpful

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