Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire

"The scope and shape of Herrin's survey of Byzantine history and culture are impressive. She moves from the foundation of Constantinople to its fall before the Turks in a series of 28 short chapters. This allows the curious reader to sample such delectable topics as Greek fire, eunuchs, icons, the Towers of Trebizond,"---New York Review of Books. 390 pages, softcover. Princeton University.