THE SECRET HISTORY

David Timson brings his rich talents and skills--a sonorous voice, rolling delivery, precise pronunciation, and clear understanding--to Procopius's scandalous insider look at the reign of Justinian and Theodora of Byzantium (527 to 565 CE). Procopius cannot say enough bad about the royal couple, along with their warlord, Belisarius, and his wife, accusing the emperor of remorseless greed, incompetence, and betrayal, and the women of witchcraft and nymphomania. Timson takes on the persona of Procopius--cynical but affronted, censorious and mocking--and delivers the text as HE might, sneering with disapproval and relishing payback but without overdoing the portrayal. His astute take on the author and his ability to embody him add a significant extra dimension to his fine rendering of this ancient tirade. W.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2024]