Reviews

The Anecdota or Secret History by Procopius

arooshadehghan's review against another edition

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4.0

حالا شاید همیشه این فاتحان نباشند که تاریخ را می‌نویسند اما همیشه یک روی دیگری از تاریخ هست که دیده نمی‌شود؛ یک رویی که خیلی از تاریخ‌نگارها رویشان نمی‌شود بنویسند یا جراتش را ندارند، رویی که می‌دانند دست‌کم تا ورق برنگردد قرار نیست خوانده شود و اگر خوانده شود وای به روزگارشان!
تعداد این تاریخ‌نگارها که جرات به خرج می‌دهند و از اسرار تاریخ و تاریخ سری می‌نویسند تا آن روی دیگر تاریخ را هم به تصویر بکشند به تعداد انگشتان دو دست هم نمی‌رسد و گل سر سبدشان جناب پروکوپیوس است!
پروکوپیوس، تاریخ‌نویس هم دوره‌ی یوستینیان بیزانسی و انوشیروان ساسانی در این کتاب از رازهای پشت پرده‌ی دربار بیزانس می‌گوید و کتابی به یادگار می‌گذارد که خودش هم می‌داند در زمان زندگی‌اش منتشر نخواهد شد. اینجا خبری از ستایش‌های کتاب «تواریخ» و چاپلوسی‌های بیش از اندازه‌ی «سازه‌ها» نیست. او از کثیف‌کاری‌های اشراف بیزانسی می‌گوید. از پشت‌پرده‌های روابط سیاسی و غیرسیاسی بزرگان پرده برمی‌دارد و خلاصه آن که برای یک بار هم که شده، روی دیگر تاریخ را به تصویر می‌کشد.

mel_320's review against another edition

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2.0

honestly kind of iconic of him to write this but then i had to write a 10 page research paper and that made me want to gouge my eyes out.

believeinyou's review against another edition

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dark informative medium-paced

4.0

english_lady03's review against another edition

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3.0

An unofficial history recounting what the author really thought about the 5th century Byzantine establishment. Biting, vitriolic and pulling no punches 'The Secret History' has been described as the Early Medieval version of salacious tabloid gossip. Certainly, there does seem to be an element of exaggeration because some of the events and actions the author described are almost so extreme and deplorable it is hard to believe them true.
However, the fact that he specifically requested that it not be published until after his and the Emperor's death does suggest that may indeed have been 'something rotten' in the heart of the Byzantine state.

Also, some useful details about social customs and institutions- like a late Roman postal service!

emma_fouche's review against another edition

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fast-paced
Big read, small book

casparb's review against another edition

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this is a truly dated ! edition which describes the 'appalling vulgarity' of our girly Theodora, wife of Justinian .. (probably?) former prostitute, turned empress, nymphomaniac (according to Procopius), with a stage-show involving swan-sex, from what I can tell. it becomes clear that SHE is the reason this text is, she's , I think the centre. The stuffy intro concedes, petulantly, 'Perhaps the French can appreciate the lady better than we can'. more of her pls

ayyismayo's review against another edition

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dark funny informative fast-paced

3.75

carolinebiehn's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

2.25

sorryformon's review against another edition

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informative fast-paced

3.75

Procopius is a classic chismoso. He hates Justinian and Theodora like a jealous ex. 


lanamihailovic's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

2.5