Pay in installments of $5.73 with
,
and
Shipping Estimate
USA
- USA
- CAN
- USA
- CAN
Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 20 - Jul 25
Promo Codes Available:
For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15
Description
Murder in ByzantiumIn this absorbing, suspenseful novel Julia Kristeva combines social satire, medieval history, philosophy, psychoanalytic theory, and autobiography within a gruesome murder mystery. Murder in Byzantium deftly moves from eleventh century Europe, wracked by the turbulence of the First Crusade, to the sun dappled, cultural wasteland of present day Santa Varvara, threatened by religious cults, gangs, and a serial killer on the loose. This killer is
In this absorbing, suspenseful novel Julia Kristeva combines social satire, medieval history, philosophy, psychoanalytic theory, and autobiography within a gruesome murder mystery. Murder in Byzantium deftly moves from eleventh-century Europe, wracked by the turbulence of the First Crusade, to the sun-dappled, cultural wasteland of present-day Santa Varvara, threatened by religious cults, gangs, and a serial killer on the loose. This killer is murdering members of a dubious religious sect, the New Pantheon, and leaving a mysterious figure eight drawn on their corpses. Meanwhile, Sebastian Chrest-Jones, a noted professor of human migrations, clandestinely writing a novel about the Byzantine princess-historian Anna Comnena, disappears on a quest to learn more about an ancestor who roamed across Europe to Byzantium during the First Crusade. Kristeva's recurring characters, detective Northrop Rilsky and the French journalist Stephanie Delacour, step in and desperately try to piece together the two-part mystery in the midst of their unexpected love affair. In the tradition of Umberto Eco, Susan Sontag, and Ian McEwan, Kristeva skillfully weaves philosophical and critical ideas into her fiction. Peering into the mores, obsessions, and excesses of contemporary society, Kristeva offers an engrossing portrait of Santa Varvara, a paradoxical place of sunshine and pollution where skeletons lurk in the closets of politicians and oil company executives. Her descriptions of the First Crusade and the Byzantine Empire vividly evoke a distant past while speaking to such contemporary concerns as immigration, fundamentalism, terrorism, and the East-West divide. Murder in Byzantium is also the only work in which Kristeva explores her Bulgarian roots. In the midst of this rich, multilayered historical novel, Kristeva also presents three stunning, closely observed, and interlocking portraits of characters struggling with loss and emptiness in their personal histories and day-to-day lives.Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 05/01/2008
ISBN: 9780231136372
Pages: 249
Weight: 0.78lbs
Size: 8.89h x 5.97w x 0.56d
Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
- Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
- If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
- Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 16 reviews
Sort
Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Sparta the Greek warrior city state
Format: Paperback
In ancient Greece there was no equal to the military skills of the army of Sparta. They started training young men at the age of seven with exercises that made their weapons an extension of their body. This let them weild weapons with more precision than their enemies. This is just one of the fun facts found in this book about Sparta. As with many nations which put their focus on the strength of the military forces Sparta was constantly at war. They were suspicious of the motives of other city states and often attacked before they could be attacked. We can learn much by learning of the Greeks and their relationships with each other, their alliance systems and their causes of wars. Comparing national alliance systems and causes of wars today with those of the Greeks we can learn many lessons. We can see things they could have done to prevent the carnage and and use it to our advantage. This book also gives a glimpse into the living conditions of Sparta. It explains the social structure and the government structure of Sparta. It tells of the role of women in the Spartan culture. Many times we use the term Spartan to describe a minimalist life style. This book describes the living conditions of the Spartans showing where that term originated. All of the above and much more is well described in this book about the ancient city of Sparta. As a former history teacher I highly recommended this book to everyone. This should be available to all. It is a must read
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2022
★★★★★ 5
Just Beautiful!!
Format: Paperback
absolutely phenomenal—an easy five-star read for me!
This story is rooted in redemption, survival, and forgiveness, and it delivers on every level. The emotional depth of the characters really stood out, especially as we follow a journey shaped by years of guilt, pain, and hard-earned growth. Nothing felt rushed or surface-level—every layer of the story was intentional and meaningful.
I especially loved how the author tied the theme of wildflowers into the narrative. It wasn’t just symbolic—it felt like a living, breathing part of the story, representing resilience and beauty rising from difficult circumstances. That connection made the story feel even more powerful and real.
The character development was beautifully done. You could feel the weight of their choices, their struggles, and ultimately their transformation. It’s one of those stories that stays with you after you turn the last page.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Beautiful Writing, Slow Pace
Format: Kindle
After surviving a prison bus crash, Leigh escapes to start a new life. She eventually finds her way to a flower farm, where she falls in love, learns to trust, and is finally able to heal from her past.
It’s a beautiful and moving story overall. It was nice to watch how much Leigh grew throughout the book. It felt earned. She actually put in the work, even when it was hard. I think that's what makes the story feel so real and emotional.
The wildflower metaphor worked perfectly throughout the book. Yes, it's a bit cliché, but it was done well in this book. It didn't come across as lazy or simplistic.
As a flower lover, the setting was my favorite thing. The author’s descriptions were just beautiful. So much of it reads like poetry. You can tell how much thought she put into every single word.
Unfortunately, the pacing was too slow for me. At times, it felt like it was dragging on and even got repetitive. The book could have been shorter and had a greater impact.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2026
★★★★★ 5
🌸🌼🌸🌼
Format: Kindle
Where the Wildflowers Grow and this book was such an emotional journey. What started as a survival story slowly turned into a story about healing, identity, forgiveness, and learning how to live again after trauma.
Leandra endured more pain than most people could imagine. Losing her family, spending five years in prison, and surviving the prison transport bus crash would have been enough to completely harden her. Instead, watching her reinvent herself as Leigh and slowly rediscover who she was outside of survival mode made this story feel deeply human and realistic.
I really loved the symbolism of the flower farm and how Jackson became a safe place for her without trying to “fix” her. Their relationship felt patient, healing, and genuine. The romance never overshadowed Leigh’s personal growth, which I appreciated. This book truly explored what it means to be loved properly while still carrying scars from your past.
What kept me invested the entire time was the tension hanging over everything. Even during the peaceful moments, you knew the secrets surrounding Leigh’s past would eventually surface. And when the truth finally came out, the consequences were emotional and impactful instead of feeling overly dramatic.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Fantastic Book!
Format: Paperback
“This book is such an amazing, thought-provoking, raw, and beautifully written novel. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and truly could not put it down. The characters came alive in such a vivid and unforgettable way that I was genuinely sad when the story ended, and I cried so much at the end. It pulled at my heartstrings in the most beautiful, poignant, and emotionally honest way. A truly unforgettable read.”
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026