From “one of the best literary novelists of this century” (Times Literary Supplement) comes a fascinating novel set in the twilight of the Byzantine Empire. Through the tale of the ruthless nobleman, Roussel de Balliol, his wife Lady Matilda, and Roger—attached to Balliol’s force—we receive a vivid and vital picture of 11th-century life. “An extremely gifted writer who can move into an unknown period and give it life and immediacy.”—New York Times.

From “one of the best literary novelists of this century” (Times Literary Supplement) comes a fascinating novel set in the twilight of the Byzantine Empire. Through the tale of the ruthless nobleman, Roussel de Balliol, his wife Lady Matilda, and Roger—attached to Balliol’s force—we receive a vivid and vital picture of 11th-century life. “An extremely gifted writer who can move into an unknown period and give it life and immediacy.”—New York Times.