Michael Psellus (1017–1078)

An imperfect history of his era by an intelligent and well-informed philosopher and courtier. While it ends in hagiography, the first three-quarters of the book are insightful and illuminating. Psellus is a strong narrator and while his focus is primarily on court life and descriptions of the various emperors, there's enough here to get a lively picture of the time.

Michael was a bureaucrat who wrote up every emperor he had to do with. Sadly there's only the outlier Comnenian, Isaac Comnenius (r. 1057 - 59) in this collection ably translated by Mr. Sewter. A basic book for the student of the height of the Empire. No maps as it's a Penguin.

Psellus writes the lived of Byzantine rulers from the point of view of one while lived near and worked for them. He offers insights into the workings of Byzantine court, where personal live and imperial adminsitration were identical. Excellent original resource for Byzantine or medieval studies.

Psellus's account of the Byzantine monarchs of his time. Coloured by his prejudices in favour of the court bureaucracy.