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Product Description
Product Description
A brilliant standalone novel from Anne Perry, the undisputed master of the Victorian mystery.
1273 - the gorgeous, cosmopolitan and enlightened city of Byzantium is in acute danger. Only an alliance with the Church of Rome will stop the crusading fervour of the Italian and French troops on its borders, determined to strike through Byzantium to reach Jerusalem. Faced with the prospect of surrendering its gentile Orthodox theology to Roman Catholicism, the city is in turmoil as opposing factions seek to assert their authority.
For Anna, the brutal conflict only echoes her own life. Recently arrived in Byzantium to find out why her brother has been exiled for a murder she believes he did not commit, Anna is forced to pose as a eunuch so that she can move freely in all levels of society. As she does so she finds herself in the middle of intrigues that may not only free, or condemn, her brother, but will also determime the fate of Byzantium itself.
About the Author
With twenty million books in print throughout the world, Anne Perry's bestselling novels are noted for their memorable characters, exploration of social issues and historical accuracy. Selected by The Times as one of the twentieth century's '100 Masters of Crime', Anne lives in Scotland.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This novel opens in 1273, almost seventy years after the sacking of Constantinople during the fourth crusade. The war-ravaged Byzantine Empire is still living with the consequences of the fourth crusade, and is again under threat. In order to avoid another sacking of Constantinople, the Emperor Michael Palaeologus is trying to unite the Greek (Orthodox) and Latin (Catholic) Churches. This is the brief historical background to the novel, and sets the scene for the intrigue and unrest that we see mainly through the eyes of the fictional eyes of Anna Zarides.
Anna Zarides, disguised as a eunuch named Anastasius, is a skilled physician learned in Jewish and Muslim medicine. Anna has travelled to Constantinople to discover why her twin brother Justinian has been implicated in the murder of Bessarion. Disguised as Anastasius, Anna has access to people and to knowledge that would be unavailable to her as a woman: eunuchs have their own power and invisibility in Constantinople.
`The character of eunuchs was like the sheen on the silk - fluid, unpredictable. A third gender, male and female yet neither.'
This is a sprawling and at times convoluted story as befits the period in which it is set and the events it depicts. Intrigue, politics and religion each have a role and some knowledge of the history helps in order to understand the tensions and power struggles between various groups.
I enjoyed this novel, but more because of the setting than because of Anna's quest for the truth of her brother's involvement in Bessarion's murder. I found the fictional component interesting rather than compelling, but the setting was magnificent.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Anna Zarides, disguised as a eunuch named Anastasius, is a skilled physician learned in Jewish and Muslim medicine. Anna has travelled to Constantinople to discover why her twin brother Justinian has been implicated in the murder of Bessarion. Disguised as Anastasius, Anna has access to people and to knowledge that would be unavailable to her as a woman: eunuchs have their own power and invisibility in Constantinople.
`The character of eunuchs was like the sheen on the silk - fluid, unpredictable. A third gender, male and female yet neither.'
This is a sprawling and at times convoluted story as befits the period in which it is set and the events it depicts. Intrigue, politics and religion each have a role and some knowledge of the history helps in order to understand the tensions and power struggles between various groups.
I enjoyed this novel, but more because of the setting than because of Anna's quest for the truth of her brother's involvement in Bessarion's murder. I found the fictional component interesting rather than compelling, but the setting was magnificent.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've been a fan of the writings of Anne Perry for a long time now. I enjoy her Victorian mystery series, especially the Thomas Pitt books, because she has so much talent for taking me into another time period and making me see the lives of her characters. Even though this particular book was set in a completely different time and place I had expected to enjoy it just as much. Sadly for me, that was not the case. This was a book that I struggled to read, in fact I pushed myself to finish it because I kept hoping I would find that Anne Perry spark that I recognized.
Anna Zarides has made her way to Constantinople to find her twin brother Justinian. Once there she discovered that Justinian had been involved in a plot to kill the emperor and has been banished to the Sinai desert. Was he guilty of the crime? If so, why banishment instead of death? Is he still alive? Sound like a good mystery? Well, it might have been if this book could have decided that it wanted to be a mystery. Instead it wavered back and forth between mystery and historical fiction epic with the fate of her brother definitely taking a back seat for most of the novel. In order to investigate his whereabouts it was necessary for Anna to disguise herself as the eunuch Anastasius. It seems Anna could use her skills as a physician only if she were a eunuch, not a female. I thought that the author set herself up for some very difficult storytelling by using that device, but maybe it would have worked if I had ever felt really passionate about Anna or Anastasius. Frankly, I didn't care for either of them because they seemed almost bland, as if they were the background and the story was taking place in spite of them being there. Anna had the most incredible luck to settle in a city where she knew absolutely no other person and yet become personal physician to every important personage in that city. Quite an accomplishment. And months and months pass while Anna/Anastasius is establishing her medical practice and becoming embroiled with religious politics with no progress being made on finding out anything about her brother. There are plots within plots and sub-plots within those plots also. And many, many characters.
The novel probably will be enjoyed more by readers of historical fiction because the main emphasis of the story is always centered on the political wranglings between the rulers of Constantinople and Rome. Between the Roman Catholic Church represented by the Pope then in power and the emperor of the Byzantine empire. Between the different factions in Constantinople who all have their own agendas and are willing to do any kind of malicious act to arrive at their hoped for result. It was just too much of a departure from previous books I've read by this author for me to enjoy it. Plus I honestly found it dull.
Anna Zarides has made her way to Constantinople to find her twin brother Justinian. Once there she discovered that Justinian had been involved in a plot to kill the emperor and has been banished to the Sinai desert. Was he guilty of the crime? If so, why banishment instead of death? Is he still alive? Sound like a good mystery? Well, it might have been if this book could have decided that it wanted to be a mystery. Instead it wavered back and forth between mystery and historical fiction epic with the fate of her brother definitely taking a back seat for most of the novel. In order to investigate his whereabouts it was necessary for Anna to disguise herself as the eunuch Anastasius. It seems Anna could use her skills as a physician only if she were a eunuch, not a female. I thought that the author set herself up for some very difficult storytelling by using that device, but maybe it would have worked if I had ever felt really passionate about Anna or Anastasius. Frankly, I didn't care for either of them because they seemed almost bland, as if they were the background and the story was taking place in spite of them being there. Anna had the most incredible luck to settle in a city where she knew absolutely no other person and yet become personal physician to every important personage in that city. Quite an accomplishment. And months and months pass while Anna/Anastasius is establishing her medical practice and becoming embroiled with religious politics with no progress being made on finding out anything about her brother. There are plots within plots and sub-plots within those plots also. And many, many characters.
The novel probably will be enjoyed more by readers of historical fiction because the main emphasis of the story is always centered on the political wranglings between the rulers of Constantinople and Rome. Between the Roman Catholic Church represented by the Pope then in power and the emperor of the Byzantine empire. Between the different factions in Constantinople who all have their own agendas and are willing to do any kind of malicious act to arrive at their hoped for result. It was just too much of a departure from previous books I've read by this author for me to enjoy it. Plus I honestly found it dull.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After my disappointment with her last Pitt book (Buckingham Palace) it was a great pleasure to see that Ms Perry has regained her story-telling ability with this move into new territory, new country, new century and new characters. Well written, good story lines, well plotted, and characters that immediately engaged my interest and sympathies. The Byznatine court, its people and its problems both internal and international make for an intelligent and almost un-putdownable read. I sincerely hope for a follow-up.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
So so.
Good historical fiction leaves me in a fantasy world for a few hours after I put the book down. I contemplate what else could have happened, my own interactions with the characters... Read more
Published 28 days ago by FreeByrde
Disappointing
In search of her brother Justinian, who was accused of murder and then banished, Anna Lascaris comes to Constantinople disguised as Anastasius, a eunuch and physician by trade. Read more
Published on 5 April 2010 by Misfit
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