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A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from History's Most Orthodox EmpireWeird, decadent, degenerate, racially mixed, superstitious, theocratic, effeminate, and even hyper literate, Byzantium has long been regarded by many as one big curiosity. According to Voltaire, it represented "a worthless collection of miracles, a disgrace for the human mind"; for Hegel, it was "a disgusting picture of imbecility." A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities will churn up these old prejudices, while also stimulating a deeper interest among
Weird, decadent, degenerate, racially mixed, superstitious, theocratic, effeminate, and even hyper-literate, Byzantium has long been regarded by many as one big curiosity. According to Voltaire, it represented "a worthless collection of miracles, a disgrace for the human mind"; for Hegel, it was "a disgusting picture of imbecility." A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities will churn up these old prejudices, while also stimulating a deeper interest among readers in one of history's most interesting civilizations. Many of the zanier tales and trivia that are collected here revolve around the political and religious life of Byzantium. Thus, stories of saints, relics, and their miracles-from the hilarious to the revolting-abound. Byzantine bureaucracy (whence the adjective "Byzantine"), court scandals, and elaborate penal code are world famous. And what would Byzantium be without its eunuchs, whose ambiguous gender produced odd and risible outcomes in different contexts? The book also contains sections on daily life that are equally eye-opening, including food (from aphrodisiacs to fermented fish sauce), games such as polo and acrobatics, and obnoxious views of foreigners and others (e.g., Germans, Catholics, Arabs, dwarves). But lest we overlook Byzantium's more honorable contributions to civilization, also included are some of the marvels of Byzantine science and technology, from the military (flamethrowers and hand grenades) to the theatrical ("elevator" thrones, roaring mechanical lions) and medical (catheters and cures, some bizarre). This vast assortment of historical anomaly and absurdity sheds vital light on one of history's most obscure and orthodox empires.Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 10/02/2017
ISBN: 9780190625948
Pages: 248
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.40w x 1.00d
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4.6 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Cute and fun reading
Format: Board book, Format: Board book
Love this book! My toddler loves it too! Perfect for spring reading!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Cute and educational
Format: Board book
Besides being such a cute story, the tactile features in this book hold my one year old's attention span: the different size pages and hole cut-outs. Also good for introducing days of the week, numbers, and fruits.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Beautiful colors
Format: Hardcover
Great book!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Stunning Storytelling
Format: Kindle
Excellent. I read The Help on a whim all those years ago and was spellbound by the author's ability to weave a complex story across multiple narrators. When I'd heard that her second novel was coming out, I added it to my library wishlist as fast as I could. Then, the second I got word it was available, I couldn't help but immediately dive in... and, because her first novel made such an impression upon me, I had so much trust in the author's ability to deliver a story that I hadn't even bothered to read the blurb.
Going in blind into the Calamity Club was a discovery! I was charmed, entertained, amused, and once again, spellbound by Stockett's ability to shift between narrators. One, a somewhat sheltered but very bright and kindhearted woman Birdie. And the other, a charming and very intelligent 11-year-old seemingly orphaned girl, Meg. But beyond this, her ability to weave together a story featuring the fringes of society, giving people -- women, of various walks of life -- a voice in an era where women might have the vote, but are still subjected to a variety of society norms, laws, and double standards, is still very compelling.
I adored Meg, and I was so invested in seeing how things would turn out for her. And the strong female cast that Stockett features here only adds to the story's strengths.
Having read a few comments here on length, while I agree the story is a little long and the try-fail cycle of getting the underground business off the ground may feel pointless for some, it didn't bother me and only served to showcase the strength of the women. There were so many characters in this book that one could examine closer, from the aching pain of Rory's story to the quiet pain of the accidental loss of someone struggling with emotional struggles and alcoholism to the desperation of destitution, and the lengths one might go just to survive. There's so much within these pages to mine and consider, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My only critique is that I felt it ended so abruptly! I wanted just one further chapter, a glimpse of Meg's future...
Still: an excellent read, and the Acknowledgements/Author's Note on the research involved in this one was one that made me think about how far we've come... and the direction of where we might go in the future.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Un-Putdown-Able
Format: Kindle
Wonderful book! It’s intriguing, heartfelt and funny as hell. There may be a few loose ends they are too easily wrapped up but honestly, it doesn’t detract from the overall impact of the book.
I have to say that the story is enhanced by the Audible version, which is something I rarely say because I usually need to see the words in print. But the two readers of the book are superb and add a lot of depth to the characters. Honestly, if there’s a movie made of this book, I will probably be disappointed in the actors who portray the characters of Birdie and Meg because they won’t be as good as Jenna Lamia and January Lavoy who narrated this book for Audible.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026