SAILING FROM BYZANTIUM How a Lost Empire Shaped the World

As the "repository of reason's ancient secrets," the Roman splinter empire of Byzantium helped preserve the works and thoughts of the ancient Greeks, and played a vital role in the Italian Renaissance. Author Colin Wells explains that, although time ran out on this great empire, its influence helped Europe through the Dark Ages. Wells's arguments are delivered with scholarly precision by Lloyd James. While the narration seems too much like a university lecture when the book focuses on names and dates, generally James reads with the passion that Wells has for his subject. Byzantium's history is complicated--written charts and timelines to follow might have been helpful--but fascinating as well. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]