Count Belisarius
London: Cassell & Company, 1938. 1st ed., octavo, original green cloth boards with gilt dec and title to spine, b&w frontis map, b&w maps, pp. x, 528. Discolotation to spine. Bummped and rubbed to corners: heavily rubbed to the bottom rear corner with some fading. Ex-library, with usual marks to preliminary pages and last free endpaper. Fair condition.
Fictionalised account of the Roman general Belisarius (AD 500–565). "The story is narrated by a eunuch, Eugenius, a devoted slave in Antonina’s household. The scope of the book is massive – encompassing religious controversy and cultural developments as well as military history – yet, throughout, Graves succeeds in blending historical details with the development of his main characters. For anyone who has seen the beautiful mosaic of Justinian and Theodora in Ravenna, their characters here come as a surprise: for all its ideals and renewed hope, the Eastern Roman Empire was as corrupt as its Western predecessor. Belisarius alone rises above this as a man of principle and integrity and a renowned military leader. He leads Justinian’s army to victory in the campaigns against Persia, Carthage, Sicily and Northern Italy, often against astonishing odds and with little backing." (Historical Novel Society.). Item #106917
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