Synopses & Reviews
Sir Steven Runciman's History of the Crusades (1951-4) remains widely read and influential to this day but represents only a part of his wide-ranging, erudite and immensely readable literary activity. His early work focused on Byzantium in the tenth century (The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus) and the history of the first Bulgarian empire. Later he wrote with authority on ecclesiastical relations between the eastern and western churches (The Eastern Schism), more generally on Byzantine culture (Byzantine Style and Civilization), with forays into medieval diplomacy (The Sicilian Vespers) and British colonial society (The White Rajahs). With a diplomatic past which informed his studies, he was the doyen of Byzantine studies in Britain. This volume of essays on topics relevant to Sir Steven's interests, long planned in his honour by British Byzantinists of all generations, includes a memoir of his life and a full bibliography of his work.
Synopsis
Sir Steven Runciman was one of the greatest Byzantinists of the twentieth century. This collection of essays is by many of the most eminent Byzantinists in Britain on topics which would have interested him. The thread tying them together is that of Byzantine style and civilization, the title of one of his most read books. These cutting-edge contributions represent the most recent research on Byzantine history and culture, on topics such as Greek fire, the archaeology of the silk trade in Greece, monasteries for eunuchs, and women in Serbian politics.
Synopsis
Volume of cutting-edge essays written in honour of renowned Byzantinist Sir Steven Runciman.
About the Author
Elizabeth M. Jeffreys is Bywater and Sotheby Professor of Byzantine and Modern Greek Language and Literature in the University of Oxford, and Fellow of Exeter College; she has published extensively on topics in Byzantine literature.