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upokyin's review against another edition
3.0
Two and a half stars really. The main reason I enjoyed this book is because I learned a lot from it about the history of the eastern Roman empire, the course of political events in sixth century and the various tribes involved.
However, that is really all that I liked about it. Although the battle scene descriptions were tense and exciting at first, after the third battle, this became rather tedious - a litany of one battle after another.
I was also surprised and rather disappointed at the lack of military detail. Not that I am a fan of warfare or things military, but if I am reading an account of a general on campaign, then I might as well gain an insight into life in the army, its strategies, tactics and weaponry. But no, the author makes scant mention of the military terminology of the time - his descriptions read more like an eyewitness account of a scene in a modern newspaper - for example, he refers to the spears, lances, javelins and swords used by the Romans as....well....spears, lances, javelins and swords - no mention of the names of these famous weapons nor any explanation as to why they were so effective in battle.
I also found it difficult to visualise any of the characters as Graves never describes their physical appearance. The fascinating intrigue of the Byzantine court mentioned in some comments here only really develops towards the end of the novel. Furthermore there is no character development whatsoever. Though this book has great potential, it unfortunately fails to capitalise on it.
However, that is really all that I liked about it. Although the battle scene descriptions were tense and exciting at first, after the third battle, this became rather tedious - a litany of one battle after another.
I was also surprised and rather disappointed at the lack of military detail. Not that I am a fan of warfare or things military, but if I am reading an account of a general on campaign, then I might as well gain an insight into life in the army, its strategies, tactics and weaponry. But no, the author makes scant mention of the military terminology of the time - his descriptions read more like an eyewitness account of a scene in a modern newspaper - for example, he refers to the spears, lances, javelins and swords used by the Romans as....well....spears, lances, javelins and swords - no mention of the names of these famous weapons nor any explanation as to why they were so effective in battle.
I also found it difficult to visualise any of the characters as Graves never describes their physical appearance. The fascinating intrigue of the Byzantine court mentioned in some comments here only really develops towards the end of the novel. Furthermore there is no character development whatsoever. Though this book has great potential, it unfortunately fails to capitalise on it.
darwin8u's review against another edition
4.0
"For not by numbers of men, nor by measure of body, but by valor of soul is war to be decided."
-- Belisarius
I love the story of Belisarius. Did Robert Graves abuse history in writing this? I certainly hope so. By the end, however, I didn't really care if Belisarius was as good as Graves made him out to be, if the narrator, Eugenius, (Belisarius' wife Antonia's manservant ) is unreliable, or if Antonia slept with one man or many after marrying this 'Last Great Roman'. Graves bends this story into his own parable about power, corruption, honor and ingenuity. Other generals and the emperor Justinian serve as counter-examples of Belisaurius and also reflect the time he lived. The book wasn't perfect, but it was a great book about a near perfect man.
'Count Belisarius' does make me want to dig deeper into Procopius' [b:History of the Wars of Justinian|6615459|History of the Wars of Justinian|Procopius of Caesarea|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394286672s/6615459.jpg|6809542] and [b:The Secret History|561444|The Secret History|Procopius|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337823521s/561444.jpg|1121220]. I think the brilliance of writers like Robert Graves and Hilary Mantel is their ability (through historical fiction) to capture something MORE than history. Much of Belisarius' life is lost. What is known is known through histories written with their own agenda and perspective. Graves novel gives us room to imagine a world that may not be accurate, but is an idealized version of what we WANT to believe we are capable. With the void of the past containing almost an infinite number of possibilities, it is reasonable to want to find pure motives and heroics in those figures of the past. Procopius can keep his cuckolded history, I'll take Grave's virtuous fiction any day.
-- Belisarius
I love the story of Belisarius. Did Robert Graves abuse history in writing this? I certainly hope so. By the end, however, I didn't really care if Belisarius was as good as Graves made him out to be, if the narrator, Eugenius, (Belisarius' wife Antonia's manservant ) is unreliable, or if Antonia slept with one man or many after marrying this 'Last Great Roman'. Graves bends this story into his own parable about power, corruption, honor and ingenuity. Other generals and the emperor Justinian serve as counter-examples of Belisaurius and also reflect the time he lived. The book wasn't perfect, but it was a great book about a near perfect man.
'Count Belisarius' does make me want to dig deeper into Procopius' [b:History of the Wars of Justinian|6615459|History of the Wars of Justinian|Procopius of Caesarea|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394286672s/6615459.jpg|6809542] and [b:The Secret History|561444|The Secret History|Procopius|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337823521s/561444.jpg|1121220]. I think the brilliance of writers like Robert Graves and Hilary Mantel is their ability (through historical fiction) to capture something MORE than history. Much of Belisarius' life is lost. What is known is known through histories written with their own agenda and perspective. Graves novel gives us room to imagine a world that may not be accurate, but is an idealized version of what we WANT to believe we are capable. With the void of the past containing almost an infinite number of possibilities, it is reasonable to want to find pure motives and heroics in those figures of the past. Procopius can keep his cuckolded history, I'll take Grave's virtuous fiction any day.
lpobryan's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of Robert Graves underrated works. An exciting journey into the heart of the Byzantine Empire I was disappointed only to finish.
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