A Byzantine Journey

by John Ash

Book Overview

For those interested in a deeper appreciation of the Byzantine Empire and its importance to world history, this engaging, richly detailed travelogue introduces a colorful cast of personalities from the region's fascinating history and provides a detailed description of the art and influences of the time. Photos. 2 maps.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679409343
• ISBN13: 9780679409342
• Release Date: May 1995
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 330 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Wonderfully informative

Ever since reading John Julius Norwich's A Short History of Byzantium, I have become fascinated by Byzantine history and culture. This book is a fine addition to my reading, reminding me of some of the details of the empire while explaining what was there in Istanbul and Anatolia. It has been difficult for me to get a handle on what the people looked like, where they lived, what they ate, how they dressed. This book helped breath some life into my understanding of the civilization. It was really wonderful.

Very fine reflections/travelogue on Byzantium's remnants

This is a very fine book and well worth picking up and reading IF you are interested in the Byzantine physical remnants of Anatolia, in particular. Ash spends some time visiting sites in Constantinople at the beginning and end of his journey, but the lion's share is spent between Iznik/Nicaea, at the west end, and Cappadocia and Cilicia, at the east end of Asia Minor. Ash may not be a Byzantine scholar, but he is a master at noticing detail and telling stories. His sensitive and learned eye provide remarkable insight into the ruins he visits, in terms of the lives of the people connected to them...their builders, if known, the lives of Anatolia's Greek population (of which very substantial remains existed up until the early 1920s), and Anatolian Turks of today (Ash has a kind and observant way of recognizing the young boys and girls who seem to always pop up and help him find this or that ruin, that rings true). You truly won't get this stuff in guidebooks. I found out all sorts of things about Byzantium reading Ash's book, and I'm a pretty conversant layman in things Byzantine. Comparing Ash's experience with my own to Istanbul/Iznik a few years ago, his accounts are authentic to the what I experienced (the friendliness and helpfulness of Anatolians in particular). His account of his visit to the Golden Gate is hilarious and pathetic and much like my own experience at this (apparently almost unvisited) world class historic location. He has an ability to marvel, unashamedly, at turning a corner and finding something unexpected...but this is no neophyte easily impressed. Ash also has a lovely poetic way of expressing the tragic demise of Byzantine civilization that somehow manages to remain firmly rooted in the present. That's good writing. Book has some good photos (more would be welcomed...he visits many places that do not show up in the pics), and the map is okay, as is the index.

a wonderful book

this is a wonderful book. Ash is an attentive and descriptive writer who weaves anecdote, history and travel writing into an unusually gifted book. Perfect beach or travel reading. As one who is Greek and originally from Asia Minor, I find his insights to be keen, especially as to cultural matters and the tug of war between Greek and Turk, between Christian and Moslem, which animates the history of Asia Minor and Constantinople, Smyrna, Nicaea and Nicomedia to this day.

wonderful

Ash is a great writer. He makes Byzantine history come alive and captures life in modern Turkey. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the region and its history.

A good book for the specialist on Byzantium or travel reader

The author is not one who has gone this way before and is therefore giving a somewhat innocent view of Byzantine monuments in Turkey. I found in the book interesting dialogue and some helpful suggestions for visiting those same sights in May '98.