The Tale of Krispos: Krispos Rising/Krispos of Videssos/Krispos the Emperor

by Harry Turtledove

Book Overview

The dazzling story of a boy who rises from poverty and hardship to become the greatest leader his world has ever known KRISPOS RISING Born a ragged peasant, Krispos lives on the family farm until crushing taxes drove him from the land he calls home. With only a single gold piece to his name-a gift from a nomad chieftain who claimed it carried magic-Krispos heads for the imperial capital, Videssos, and into a world of peril and possibility. KRISPOS...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345467205
• ISBN13: 9780345467201
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 1024 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Great books

The entire Videssos/Makuran series of books are very entertaining. i just wish Mr. Turtledove would write more!

Entertaining, Interesting Byzantine History

A couple days ago, I finished "The Tale of Krispos" by Harry Turtledove. It consists of a trilogy of books (Krispos Rising, Krispos of Videssos, Krispos the Emperor) published as one book. Basically, it is a fictional account of the rise and reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Basil the Macedonian. It's set in an "alternative universe" in which the map is flipped and some magic is possible, which can be annoying. Nevertheless, it's a fun piece of historical fiction which tries to show what it might have been like to live in the Byzantine Empire. If you like historical fiction or alternative history, you will probably enjoy this book.

Fun Novelization of Byzantine Emperor Basil I

In reading this entertaining book I kept having a feeling of deja vu. While enjoyable, the book's story seemed really familiar. Well, Byzantine history fans, guess what. The book is a thinly disguised novelization of the rise and, I admit to a lesser extent, the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Basil I "The Macedonian". The story of Krispos' (Basil I) early life, both in his village and as a captive beyond the Empire's frontiers, along with his early adventures in Videssos (Constantinople), is essentially true history. This even extends to very specific details -- the abbot discovering his possibilities, the wrestling match, his job a groom to the Avtokrator's (Autokrator is a Byzantine title) uncle Petronas (Bardas) and attendant to Anthimos III (Michael III). Of course, the Byzantine Empire did not have magic, but that just makes this series of books fun. Enjoy!