The second volume of Alexander Kazhdan’s «A history of Byzantine Literature», covering the period 850 to 1000, was conceived as the third part of the whole project and was accordingly subtitled «The Time of Order and Encyclopedism». However, part three presents more than a detailed study of the variety and development of literary genres characterizing the time of the Byzantine «revival». More importantly it explores the literary means by which the first steps towards the emergence of authorial individuality are displayed, a key concept in Alexander’s perception of the Byzantine literary heritage. (. . .)

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