Mothers and Sons, Fathers and Daughters

"This volume presents in translation all the texts that Psellos wrote concerning his family. They present the reader with the most complete picture we have of any non-imperial family by casting light on the life of Byzantine women outside the circle of hagiography and court history. The volume includes a long funeral oration for his mother, a funeral oration for his daughter Styliane, a legal work regarding the engagement of his second, adopted, daughter, a letter to his very young grandson, six letters regarding Psellos's family, and a brief work on the festival of St. Agathê. In Kaldellis's excellent translation, Michael Psellos's times and family come to life."

"Michael Psellos was the 'Cicero of Byzantium,' except that his interests were more wide-ranging than those of his Roman predecessor. In addition to being a politician, poet, and writer of letters, speeches, and treatises on philosophy and rhetoric, he was an innovative historian and a practical educator who interested himself in all aspects of learning from mathematics and medicine to theurgy. Hitherto, owing to a lack of translations, only his 'Chronographia' has been at all well known. Anthony Kaldellis has now done a great service in making accessible a collection of texts bearing upon personal familial relationships of which we know so little in Byzantium. His translations read well, are accurate, and reflect Psellos' literary subtlety. His commentaries are scholarly and give vital information for the better understanding of this facet of Byzantine society." —Antony R. Littlewood, University of Western Ontario

“In sum, the discussion in Mothers and Sons, Fathers and Daughters is deft and crisp. The arguments are built up confidently and convincingly. Wearing his scholarship lightly, Kaldellis marshals Psellos on family to excellent effect, and offers clear and perceptive ideas. This very satisfying read has what is required to attract a wider readership to Psellos’ prodigious work.” —Journal of Hellenic Studies

"Teachers of survey courses in Byzantine society, as well as scholars within the wider orbit of Byzantine studies, will find these translations useful and revealing of a leading author's intellectual sensibility." —Speculum