Lost to the West

The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization

By: Lars Brownworth

Narrated by: Lars Brownworth

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Filled with unforgettable stories of emperors, generals, and religious patriarchs, as well as fascinating glimpses into the life of the ordinary citizen, Lost to the West reveals how much we owe to the Byzantine Empire that was the equal of any in its achievements, appetites, and enduring legacy. For more than a millennium, Byzantium reigned as the glittering seat of Christian civilization.

When Europe fell into the Dark Ages, Byzantium held fast against Muslim expansion, keeping Christianity alive. Streams of wealth flowed into Constantinople, making possible unprecedented wonders of art and architecture. And the emperors who ruled Byzantium enacted a saga of political intrigue and conquest as astonishing as anything in recorded history. Lost to the West is replete with stories of assassination, mass mutilation and execution, sexual scheming, ruthless grasping for power, and clashing armies that soaked battlefields with the blood of slain warriors numbering in the tens of thousands.

©2009 Lars Brownworth (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"Captivating…In Lost to the West Lars Brownworth shows a novelist’s eye for character, bringing to life some of the most fascinating — and yet little known -- figures of the Byzantine era. But it is as a researcher into the obscurities of palace intrigue, treachery, and battlefield carnage that Lars really shines. With dry humor and a palette of vivid images, he recounts the dizzying game of musical chairs that placed one usurper after another on the Byzantine throne, only to be pitched off in a gaudily macabre way. In the end, one is left agog by the irony that the upshot of this centuries-long scrum was the preservation of nearly all that the Greeks have bequeathed to us.”—Steven Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire

“Rome never fell -- it simply moved five hundred miles East -- to Byzantium. For over a thousand years the Byzantines commanded one of the most visceral and vivid empires the world has ever known. And yet their achievements are consistently underplayed; written out of history. Lars Brownworth is a rare talent. His contagious passion brings murderous empresses, conniving eunuchs, lost Greek texts and Byzantine treasures of fairy-tale proportions blinking back into the light. Confidently striding through time and across the mountains and plains of the Eastern Mediterranean, Brownworth puts this theocratic superstate slap-bang in the center of mankind's global story; back where it should be. The Byzantines made our world what it is today. Lars Brownworth matches their verve and brio in his seductive and gripping account.”—Bettany Hughes, PBS host and author of Helen of Troy

“This is history as it used to be, history as story-telling. In this fascinating account of the Byzantine empire, Lars Brownworth covers a thousand years of blood-letting, outrageous luxury, bitter religious disputes and vaulting ambition without giving the slightest impression of being rushed or crowded. The page turns unaided.”—Anthony Everitt, bestselling author of Augustus, Cicero and The First Emperor

A Hidden History

What did you love best about Lost to the West?

If you've ever wondered about what became of the remnants of the Empire of Rome after it fell, or what was going on in the rest of the world, Lost to the West answers those questions.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Featuring parade of cynical emporers, brash pretenders, bold usurpers and grasping regents, the line of Roman success in both the East and West combines with notable characters from all walks of life to weave a non-fiction historical account of the empire.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Most notably, it was a Constantine who ushered in the Byzantine Empire and a Constantine who lead the empire into oblivion not with a wimper, but in the proud tradition of Greek heroism.

Any additional comments?

The story of Byzantium is rarely told in this detail among westerners where the legends of Rome and Greece stop in the middle of the first millennium. However, the Byzantine empire sheltered the west from eastern conquest, and when it fell the remnants proved to be seeds for the Renaissance in the west, the age of discovery and for Czarist rule in the north. Our world is very much shaped by the legacy of Byzantium, and this is the book that connects the dots in the picture of the modern world.

Great Quick Overview of an Oft-Neglected Subject

I have been fascinated by the so-called Byzantine Empire for some time. Brownworth provides an engaging, fast-paced overview of a thousand-plus years. He covers the major personalities and events that involve the Eastern Roman Empire. Here, you meet Justinian and his wife, Theodora. We see the rise of Islam. The gradual decline of the Empire but - amazingly - just when you think that it is down and out, it rises again for more.

Entertaining but a bit repetitive

If you're really interested in getting a short outlook of byzantine history this is a great pick. However, narration can be a bit repetitive.

A wonderfully told overview

I almost cried at the end. The book has just enough detail to make you feel present at each age of Byzantium's history, but not so much as too big down the story. Why is this topic not taught to in schools in the West?

very good overview of Byzantine history

I didn't know a lot about the Byzantine empire until listening to Lars podcast on 12 Byzantine rulers. that got me very interested to learn more so it made sense to get his audiobook on the subject. I had a great time listening to this audio book.

Excellent history of the Byzantone empire!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lost to the West?

The author does a great job of giving the individual historical figures personalities, and very three dimensional personalities as well.

Justinian, for example, is not just shown as the great emperor casual history fans know, but also for his personality flaws. (Particularly his weaknesses in dealing with his wife!)

What about Lars Brownworth’s performance did you like?

Excellent narration!

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended. The reading is compelling, history as good story telling.
I know feel that I have a good understanding of the great history of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Excellent overview of 1123 years of history

Excellent overview of 1123 years of history. Hit the right balance of detail and sweeping overview, for a ~10 hours listen.

The Beginning

For me this was the starting point for what has been my research and reading passion for now many years. The author has also produced a podcast that is very near or the same as the book.

Enjoyable listen, kinda like his podcast

I enjoyed his podcasts and this audio book as well. If tou are into popular history, this book is for you.

Brilliant book on Byzantine history

A very detailed and entertaining account on the Byzantine empire from the time of the fall of the wester Roman empire in 476AD to the final fall of Byzantium and Constantinople in 1453. The author describes the struggle of the Byzantine empire in a very interesting, capturing way. The role that Byzantium and its neighbors, allies and enemies played for the kingdoms of western Europe are very well explained. The narrator is doing a great job in really bringing the history alive!