First of all I would like to thank Rosie at Pen and Sword for being so kind and sending me copies of both of these books in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Anne Komnene and the Alexiad: The Byzantine Princess and the First Crusade centres on (official blurb): “Anna Komnene is one of the most curious figures in the history of an intriguing empire. A woman of extraordinary education and intellect, she was the only Byzantine female historian and one of the first and foremost historians in medieval Europe. Yet few people know of her and her extraordinary story. Subsequent historians and scholars have skewed the picture of Anna as an intellectual princess and powerful author. She has been largely viewed as an angry, bitter old woman, who greedily wanted a throne that did not belong to her. Accusations of conspiracy and attempted murder were hurled at her and as punishment for her ‘transgressions’ she was to live the last days of her life in exile. It was during her time in a convent, where she was not a nun, that she composed the Alexiad, the history of the First Crusade and the Byzantine Emperor, Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118), her father. This book aims to present Anna Komnene – the fascinating woman, pioneer intellectual, and charismatic author – to the general public. Drawing on the latest academic research to reconstruct Anna’s life, personality and work, it moves away from the myth of Anna the conspirator and ‘power-hungry woman’ which has been unfairly built around her over centuries of misrepresentation. It places Anna Komnene in the context of her own time: the ancient Greek colony and medieval Eastern Roman empire, known as Byzantium, with the magnificent city of Constantinople at its heart. At the forefront of an epic clash between East and West, this was a world renowned for its dazzling wealth, mystery and power games. It was also known for a vigorous intellectual renaissance centuries before its western counterpart. This was a world with Anna Komnene directly at the centre.”
Anna Komnene and the Alexiad: The Byzantine Princess and the First Crusade was a well-written, well-researched and an overall fascinating read. Throughout the whole of this book you are presented with such interesting information that is not only both relevant but also engaging.
Literature saw in Anna the ‘power-hungry’, masculine woman, but also the first model of a modern intellectual woman striving to balance family and writing.
This biography was such a brilliant addition to women’s history. Anne Komnene is such a fascinating and all around amazing woman within history. This book offers such a vivid insight into such a bright and intelligent woman who would have otherwise been mostly if not all but forgotten by history.
How to Survive in Ancient Egypt centres on (official blurb): “Imagine you were transported back in time to Ancient Egypt and you had to start a new life there. How would you fit in? Where would you live? What would you eat? Where would you go to have your hair done? Who would you go to if you got ill, or if you were mugged in the street? All these questions, and many more, will be answered in this new how-to guide for time travelers. Part self-help guide, part survival guide, this lively and engaging book will help the reader deal with the many problems and new experiences that they will face, and also help them to thrive in this strange new environment.”
How to Survive in Ancient Egypt was such a fun, well-written, well-researched, engaging and an overall brilliant and fascinating read.
The whole concept and final product of this book was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. If you want to make history books fun, interesting, engaging then How to Survive in Ancient Egypt is a perfect example of how to do it right.
If you have an interest in Ancient Egypt or even a love of Ancient Egyptian history then I would definitely recommend this book.
(Photos is my own please do not take/copy without permission first.)
Where there's Ink there's Paper 