From "one of the best literary novelists of this century" ("Times Literary Supplement") comes a fascinating novel set in the twilight of the Byzantine Empire. Through the tale of the ruthless nobleman, Roussel de Balliol, his wife Lady Matilda, and Roger--attached to Balliol's force--we receive a vivid and vital picture of 11th-century life. "An extremely gifted writer who can move into an unknown period and give it life and immediacy."--"New York Times."