O City of Byzantium...

[fajrdrako]

I was reading O City of Byzantium by Niketas Choniates this evening - his annals of the city in the late 12th century. To my surprise, when I first opened it at random, the book opened to the page where Choniates first introduces Conrad of Montferrat in 1171. Just the page I most wanted to go to.

I love history. I love those people of the 12th century, coming real on the page as I read. I love Niketas Choniates for writing this book. I love his introduction:

Historical narratives, indeed, have been invented for the common benefit of mankind, since those who will are able to gather from many of these the most advantageous insights. In recording ancient events and customs, the narratives elucidate human nature and expose men of noble sentiments, whose who nourish a natural love for the good, to varied experiences.

Comments

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

I also fall in love with the mediaval history, but after this love is very young yet, I'm first in the secondary sources (like Runciman and others). But I can good understand that the primary sources are even more interesting, because one gets the facts rom the "first hand".
I've never thought until now that I would read a history book with such tension like I'm now reading Runciman; actually I'm waiting the day long to go home and read.

Niketas Choniates' introduction is absolutly wonderful, the price on amazon as well.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Yes, the price is horrific. I borrowed it from the library in St As and photocopied chunks instead!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think Runciman is wonderful (despite various errors) and I can't think of a better place to start if you're into crusading studies. As I am.

Yes, the price of Choniates is terrifying, and do you know what's worse? That's one of the lower prices I have found.

I think they ought to reprint it.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

In paperback!
It's an important primary source - surely it would go down well with students if they could afford their own copies?!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - make a good, basic, affordable copy - make it a companion volume to Anna Comnena. Why not? Why keep these things out of print?

Grumble, grumble. Publishers don't have a clue.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Yes! And it would stop people wrongly accusing our poor boy of murder!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You think? I think that's a little optimistic. You'll always get detractors. But it would be nice to have a more balanced picture where not all the popularizers make him a monster.

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

I'm the one who always says that everyone should know the history, but sometimes I think it wouldn't be so good if "our guys" would become to popular. Can you imagine a rock opera by Elton John with the title "Conrad of Montferrat" or "Bohemund of Antioch"?

I'm only joking, but I can't resist to post it. But it has nothing to do with the price of the Choniates or other sources, it's horrible, even the historian or people who really want to lern can't afford it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Can you imagine a rock opera by Elton John with the title "Conrad of Montferrat" or "Bohemund of Antioch"?

Sure I can! Or at least... there's a certain degree of fame some historical figures have achieves - say, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Juius Caesar, Napoleon, Leonardo da Vinci - that makes them fair game for popular entertainment, because people have heard of them. Obviously some appalling works have been produced with these characters, but there've been a lot of worthwhile ones, too. And I happen to think Bohemund of Antioch or Conrad of Montferrat are just as interesting.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Conrad has been in opera, albeit in his Walter Scott villain mode, in Balfe's Il Talismano. I think there were other operas based on it, too.

There's an 18C Italian verse tragedy, which I haven't yet read, by Magnocavallo (also an architect: I saw the church and his palace in Moncalvo).

But by and large, the Richard cult has squeezed him out in the popular media... The movie portrayals are excruciating.

But you should speak to historienne about opera... She'd love to do Baldwin IV à la Puccini!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Conrad has been in opera

...He has?

albeit in his Walter Scott villain mode, in Balfe's Il Talismano.

I never heard of it! Eeek! Another opera to feverishly search for! I assume it's based on the novel of the same name?

There's an 18C Italian verse tragedy

That sounds more my style... unless it's really dire.

But by and large, the Richard cult has squeezed him out in the popular media...

I think this is because the movie and entertainment industry is so rooted these days in the English language, and Richard comes across as such an English hero - playing up to the nationalism of England at that time. I know Scott wasn't English, but he was writing in English, and selling to the English. Actually I think he bastardized the language abominably but don't listen to me, I'm prejudiced.

Richard became a glamour-hero in his time (he knew how to play up to his own PR) and then was re-glamified (ooh, was I just criticising someone else's bastardization of language?) to suit the taste of a later era. His reputation since has gone up and down like a yo-yo and most people I speak to these days have a very negative view of him, of the "but he neglected and bakrupted England" variety). Especially true when they think they know something about the history... Perhaps there was an era when the schools were teaching about him as a bad absentee king? I doubt that - the schools here don't teach about him at all.

I know of no movie that has villainized him. And heck, they've even had Patrick Stewart play him - how much better can an image get?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I am just learning about opera. There's precious little of it here, and what there is, is waaay out of my price range even if I did manage to get to Toronto or Montreal or New York. I want more! When I can, I buy operatic CDs or DVDs, and get them from the library.

A Puccini rendition of Baldwin IV - ah, that would be a joy and a delight.

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

I meant rather such "masterpieces" like "Jesus Christ Superstar" by Andrew Weber or even "Lestat" by Elton John.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Please cross-post to oltramar!

Choniates is a great writer - wonderful purple prose, stuffed with Homeric and biblical allusions, but with a nose for scandal!

I love the way he introduces Conrad in 1179, after taking the Archbishop of Mainz prisoner! He just makes him sound so wonderful: heroic and intelligent and beautiful!

[wanderinunicorn.livejournal.com]

"With a nose for scandal" - I would love it!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

He takes great delight in relating all the stories about the various Emperors having mistresses!

But he's good on the military stuff, too. I love his account of Vranas's revolt in 1187.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He takes great delight in relating all the stories about the various Emperors having mistresses!

I always love the personal perspective. I like the sense of characterization we get at the same time.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, we know Conrad was heroic, intelligent and beautiful - we are just happy to see Choniates give us further evidence.

Okay, I'll cross-post to oltramar.

Sadly, this is a non-renewable interlibrary loan book without possibility of renewal, and I only had time to read chunks here and there. On a happier note, I know where to get the book now - from the Carleton University library - and I just have to go there when the fall term hours start and I can read more.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

He provided the evidence of the beauty - for which I am grateful! No-one else bothers with physical description of him.
I love his description of him being very dashing in battle against Vranas/Branas... Perfect for fangirling over!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I just wish we had half a dozen Choniates to five us more of these details of Conrad's life.... Sadly, the eternal plea of the historian: the need for more sources! Chonaiates is a good one.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

As far as I know - and please tell me if I'm missing something - I can only post to oltramar from my home computer. So I'll crosspost... when I can.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

That doesn't make sense: when you post to update your journal, there should be a drop-down list of your communities and such that you can post to. It's in the bar at the bottom of the update page, labelled 'post to'. It usually says 'fajrdrako', but next to it there should be an arrow, to show your groups.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Ah - thank you. I didn't realize there was a drop-down list there. Whee! This makes posting from work a lot more dangerous and fun.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Good, isn't it?!

ferromagnetic self-esteem

[platitudesrus.livejournal.com]

Always foment your Lanikai.