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A SUNDAY TIMES, BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE AND EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF THE YEAR

‘Majestic, sparkling . . . this is modern history writing at its finest’ Peter Frankopan

‘Superb and gripping’ Simon Sebag Montefiore

‘Effortlessly erudite’ Rory Stewart

‘Masterful’ Anita Anand

‘Wonderful’ William Dalrymple

The definitive story of the Roman Emperor who shaped modern times.

This groundbreaking biography gives us an intimate insight into Justinian, a man who, from the humblest beginnings, rose to become ruler of much of the known world and achieved an almost god-like status. An emperor who infused even the most mundane tasks with spiritual significance. A gifted administrator obsessed with detail. A middle-aged lover who fell for a dancing girl, ruling with Empress Theodora by his side for over twenty years. A brilliant military strategist who was never on the frontline. The challenges he faced – climate change, battles over culture and identity, the first recorded global pandemic – and many of the solutions he found still resonate with us today. His legacy remains all around us. In this tour de force, Sarris shows us that in all his complexity and contradictions Justinian was, in many ways, a very modern emperor.

Publisher Review

Magnificent. A vivid and authoritative biography of one of Rome's most fascinating rulers, Justinian is also a vibrant portrait of an entire world - a resurgent Roman Empire suddenly devastated by tragedy -- Kyle Harper, author of THE FATE OF ROME Justinian's long life mirrored that of ancient Rome itself: both rose from lowly origins to supreme power, survived revolt and conquered rivals, crafted laws and erected mighty monuments, only to be worn down by insurgents, invaders, and plagues. In a stunning tour de force, Sarris brings one of history's most momentous dramas back to life -- Walter Scheidel, author of THE GREAT LEVELER Effortlessly erudite, lucidly written, with a sharp eye for the telling detail, Sarris has written the great biography of the greatest of the Byzantine emperors -- Rory Stewart Spectacularly good: a wonderfully colourful biography of the man who remade the Roman Empire. Peter Sarris plunges us deep into a world of imperial conflict, religious paranoia, pandemics and climate change, while never losing sight of the extraordinary character at its heart. Based on decades of scholarship, this is the definitive history of the emperor and his times, and a thrilling testament to the glories of Byzantium -- Dominic Sandbrook A majestic, sparkling account of one of the most important rulers in history. Meticulously researched, beautifully written, filled with insights, this is modern history writing at its finest -- Peter Frankopan, author of THE SILK ROADS Justinian looms so large in the landscape of the ancient Mediterranean that it is almost impossible to take his measure. Yet Peter Sarris has done so convincingly, offering a lucid and persuasive account of a ruler as invested in the mechanics of government as in waging wars of conquest. A remarkable achievement -- Kate Cooper, Professor of History at Royal Holloway and author of QUEENS OF A FALLEN WORLD Superb and gripping. Epic historical biography that brings the emperor to life with analysis and empathy and a work of scholarship filled with new ideas and revelations -- Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of THE WORLD: A FAMILY HISTORY OF HUMANITY