The Alexiad

<p>The Alexiad a compelling dramatic account of the Emperor Alexios of the Byzantine Empire (about 1050-1118) was written by Alexios' highly educated and articulate daughter Anna Komnene. A princess raised in the royal court Komnene (latinized as Comnena) is generally regarded as the first woman historian. She wrote the book from a convent during the last years of her life.</p><p>This epic book covers the First Crusade daily life at the court internal plots and intrigues wars and invasions and religious heresies--all from the perspective of one who was there. It is the only primary source of the First Crusade from the Byzantine point of view.</p><p>The translation from Greek to English by Elizabeth A. S. Dawes has been praised both for its readability and its accuracy.</p>