The ten essays examine various historical, literary, theological, and art historical issues of the text and demonstrate how these should be viewed as an integral part of the narrative. Moreover, alongside more traditional historical analysis and source-criticism, several essays promote the reading of the text as a literary artefact and uncover the rhetorical techniques by which historical reality was represented by a highly educated and intelligent eye-witness of dramatic events. It is expected that the volume will make a major contribution to scholarship on the subject and stimulate interest and discussion on the History and its author.

Due to its interdisciplinary character, it will be of particular value not only for scholars and students of Byzantine literature and culture, but also for those working in related fields, such as art history, medieval history, literary interpretation, and theology.