William Faulkner A to Z Book

The Tale of Krispos consists of three previously published novels which were a favourite of mine in the 90s and which I foolishly disposed of a few years ago. So, I was happy to find a copy of this omnibus edition about a month ago.

This is the second of the Videssos cycle series, written after the Legion series which I reviewed earlier in the spring. It is set three or so centuries before the Legion series and follows the adventures of Krispos, a peasant who leaves his land holding due to over-taxation, moves to the city, Videssos, work his way into the imperial household and, eventually, to become the Emperor.

This edition starts with the first novel, Krispos Rising, which charts the rise of Krispos from a peasant holding to the north of Videssos through his move to Videssos and his unexpected overthrow of the pleasant, fun-loving, but ineffective Emperor Anthemios. The second book charts Krispos' efforts to remove his great rival, Petronas, and his wars with a rogue band of Halogai (read Vikings) and their leader, Harvas (who appears in the Legion series as the infinitely prolonged evil wizard, Avshar). The last book revisits Krispos twenty years later as he deals with grumpy adolescent sons (and successor!) and violent and destructive heretics (read: Paulicans in real life).

Like the Legion series, part of the appeal of this series is the degree to which the stories and the plots are clearly patterned on Byzantine history. Krispos is clearly Basil I the Macedonian, a peasant upstart who worked his way into the imperial office through wrestling prowess, clever opportunism and the elimination of a clearly alcoholic, ineffective emperor, Michael III. Basil proved to be a good and diligent emperor, but had an awkward relationship with his successor, who proved rather more educated, but still effective. The parallels go even into policy because Basil I's general policy to limit the economic and political power of aristocrats is reflected in Krispos' similar policies.

This is a fun read, although one must have a taste for the kind of slightly Stoic hero which is so common in Turtledove novels. Well worth reading!