Book description
Nephew of a semi-literate peasant, Justinian I was one of the most
fascinating of the Roman emperors. His reign marked a blossoming of
Byzantine culture, and his prolific building works yielded such
masterpieces as the church of Hagia Sophia, which remains the third
largest church in Christendom. Although he never took part in military
campaigns personally he managed to expand considerably the Eastern
Roman Empire's territory. Justinian's wife Theodora, daughter of a
bear keeper and former prostitute, was his partner in one of the
greatest love stories in history. After her early death Â- in her
forties Â- Justinian was devastated and sought oblivion in work,
becoming known as the Emperor who never sleeps.
Ross Laidlaw was born in Aberdeen and educated at Cambridge
University. He has worked and travelled extensively in Southern Africa
and currently lives in East Lothian, His novels include the much
acclaimed The Lion Rampant, The Linton Porcupine, Aphra Behn: Dispatch'd
from Athole, Attila: The Scourge of God, Theoderic and Justinian: The
Sleepless One.
