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Ance of David Harrisville, Irina Tamarkina, and Charlotte Whatley, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2018, Pp 338 Book reviews Kolias G., Biographie, [in:] Léon Choerosphactès, Sénina T.A., Аnth. Gr. 15.12 de Léon le Philosophe magistre, proconsul et patrice. Biographie – Corréspon- comme source autobiographique, “Greek, Roman, and dance (texte et traduction), ed. G. Kolias, Athen 1939, Byzantine Studies” 57.3, 2017, p. 713–720. p. 15–73. Sv. Kassija Konstantinopol’skaja, Gimny, kanony, Lev Matematik i Filosof, Sočinenija, ed. et trans. epigrammy / T. Senina, Kassija Konstantinovskaja: T.A. Senina, Sankt-Peterburg 2017 [= Новая визан- žizn’ i tvorčestvo, Sankt-Peterburg 2015 [= Legenda тийская библиотека. Источники / Novaja Vizantij- legantur. Quadrivium издательский проект. Seria skaja Biblioteka. Istočniki]. Byzantina / Legenda legantur. Quadrivium izdatel’skij proekt. Seria Byzantina]. Magdalino P., In Search of the Byzantine Court- ier: Leo Choirosphaktes and Constantine Manasses, * [in:] Byzantine Court Culture from 829 to 1204, Mirosław J. Leszka (Łódź)3 ed. H. Maguire, Washington 1997, p. 146–161. Translated by Marek Majer Senina T.A., Ellinizm v Vizantii IX veka, Sankt-Pe- terburg 2018 [= Новая византийская библиотека. * Uniwersytet Łódzki, Wydział Filozoficzno-Historyczny, Источники / Novaja Vizantijskaja Biblioteka. Istočniki]. Katedra Historii Bizancjum DOI: 10.18778/2084-140X.08.22 Leonora Neville, Guide to Byzantine Historical Writing, with the assist- ance of David Harrisville, Irina Tamarkina, and Charlotte Whatley, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2018, pp. XII, 322. he work under discussion has been edited set before themselves and makes certain remarks Tby Leonora Neville, professor at the Uni- about the intended readers of their works. Some versity of Wisconsin and expert in the history space is also devoted to issues such as classicism, and culture of the Middle Byzantine period; the emphasis, and meaning in Byzantine historical bibliography was compiled with the assistance writings, as well as to the problems of dating, of David Harrisville, Irina Tamarkina and Char- nomenclature, and the language itself. The final lotte Whatley (p. XI). The book is conceived as part of the Introduction provides information a companion to Byzantine historical works writ- on the principal series of publications in which ten between the years 600 and 1490. Thus, the editions of Byzantine historical sources may be author purposefully leaves out the Early Byzan- found as well a basic bibliography, featuring tine period as well as reaches beyond the year several essential works from which – according 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine state to Neville – the reader should begin his or her (p. 4–5). As regards Neville’s criteria for select- study of Byzantine historiography. ing the texts to be covered the volume, she chose The main part of the book consists of 52 only those that call themselves “histories” or entries, covering the following authors/works: “chronicles”, or that clearly look like such (p. 4) as Theophylakt Simokatta (p. 47–51), Pas- well as those that ostensibly participate in tradi- chal Chronicle (p. 52–55), George Synkellos tions of Greek history writing (p. 3). (p. 56–60), Chronicle of Theophanes (p. 61–71), The core, entry-based part of the book is Patriarch Nikephoros (p. 72–77), Scriptor In- preceded by an Introduction (p. 1–44), in which certus de Leo V (p. 78–80), Chronicle of 811 the author expounds her conception of Byzan- (p. 81–84), Megas Chronographos (p. 85–86), tine historical literature and characterizes the George the Monk (p. 87–92), Peter of Alex- community of Byzantine historians of the rele- andria (p. 93–94), Genesios (p. 95–100), The- vant periods: she describes the objectives they ophanes Continuatus (p. 101–109), Constan- Retrieved from https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/sceranea [26.09.2021] Book reviews 339 tinian Excerpts (p. 110–113), John Camin- also features a selection of contemporary schol- iates (p. 114–117), Symeon the Logothete arly literature, arranged according to the topics (p. 118–123), Leo the Deacon (p. 124–127), treated and with an indication of the work(s) Chronicle of Monemvasia (p. 128–134), Chro- from which it is advisable to begin studying nicon Bruxellense (p. 135–136), Psellos (p. 137– (Starting Point). Predictably, the layout and size 146), John Xiphilinos (p. 147–149), Michael of the entries varies greatly, reflecting the de- Attalaiates (p. 150–154), John Skylitzes and gree of interest that a given author of work has Scylitzes Continuatus (p. 155–161), George aroused in modern scholarship. The authors Kedrenos (p. 162–168), Nikephoros Bryenni- of the bibliography focus predominantly on os (p. 169–173), Anna Komnene (p. 174–185), works published in western languages (especial- John Kinnamos (p. 186–190), John Zo- ly English), no doubt a consequence of the fact naras (p. 191–199), Constantine Manasses that the volume is directed primarily at a west- (p. 200–204), Michael Glykas (p. 205–209), ern readership. Eusthatios of Thessaloniki (p. 210–215), Joel The book is capped by two appendices (p. 216–218), Niketas Choniates (p. 219–225), – A: Time Periods Covered in the Histories George Akropolites (p. 226–231), Theodore (p. 319–321) and B: Timeline of Authors’ Lives Skoutariotes (p. 232–236), George Pachymeres (p. 322). (p. 237–242), Nikephoros Gregoras (p. 243– Leonora Neville’s book appears to be an 248), Ephraim (p. 249–251), Constantine Ak- apt introduction to the Byzantine historiogra- ropolites the Grand Logothete (p. 252–253), phy of the 7th–15th centuries – both as a point Chronicle of Morea (p. 254–259), Nikephoros of departure for those intending to study it Kallistos Xanthopoulos (p. 260–265), John VI more closely and as a source of information for Kantakouzenos (p. 266–272), Michael Pana- those merely interested in acquiring a basic fa- retos (p. 273–274), Chronicle of Ioannina miliarity with the topic. Nevertheless, the work (p. 275–277), Chronicle of Tocco (p. 278–280), is to some extent hampered by the non-inclu- John Kananos (p. 281–284), John Anagnostes sion (with a small number of exceptions) of the (p. 285–288), Leontios Machairas (p. 289–292), scholarly output of Byzantinists writing in Slavic Leontios Syropoulos (p. 293–297), Doukas languages. (p. 298–301), George Sphrantzes (p. 302–307), Michael Kritovoulos (p. 308–311), Laonikos Bibliography Chalkokondyles (p. 312–318). The individual entries supply the basic information on each Feofilakt Simokatta, Istorija, trans. N.V. Pigulev- given author/work as well as a primary bibli- skaja, Moskva 1957. ography, arranged in the following order: man- Laonikos Chalkokondyles, Poslední zápas Byzan- uscripts – editions – translations1. Each entry ce, trans. J. Kalivoda, R. Dostálová, Praha 1988. 1 It is fairly surprising that translations of the pertinent Teofilakt Simokatta, Historia powszechna, trans. works into Slavic languages are cited most inconsis- A. Kotłowska, Ł. Różycki, Poznań 2016 [= Rhoma- tently. Thus, some of the entries mention the available ioi. Źródła do Historii Bizancjum, 7]. translations into Russian, Czech, Bulgarian or Polish, while in certain others these are omitted completely * Mirosław J. Leszka (Łódź)2 – for no apparent reason. For instance, no mention is made of the very existence of the translations of the Translated by Marek Majer History by Theophylakt Simokatta – the subject of the first entry in the book – into Russian (ФЕОФИЛАКТ СИМОКАТТА, История, trans. Н.В. ПИГУЛЕВСКАЯ, kondyles, the last author to be treated in the volume Москва 1957) and Polish (Teofilakt Simokatta, Hi- (Laonikos Chalkokondyles, Poslední zápas Byzan- storia powszechna, trans. A. Kotłowska, Ł. Różycki, ce, trans. J. Kalivoda, R. Dostálová, Praha 1988). Poznań 2016 [= Rh.ŹHB, 7]; likewise omitted is the * Uniwersytet Łódzki, Wydział Filozoficzno-Historyczny, Czech translation of the work by Laonikos Chalko- Katedra Historii Bizancjum Retrieved from https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/sceranea [26.09.2021] Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org).
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