Reviews

Theodore

Theodore, described as "the heretical memoirs of a gay priest", was 7th in The Guardian's Top Ten Paperback Originals for January 2000

"The headline 'Archbishop of Canterbury in Gay Sex Shock' may be every tabloid editor's dream, but, in the seventh century, it was a reality, at least according to Christopher Harris's first novel. However speculative the premise, Harris's research is impeccable and he displays remarkable organisational abilities in chronicling the life of Theodore, first as a clerk in the service of Emperor Heraclius, then as archbishop at 'the world's misty northern edge'. …the scenes of war and episcopal intrigue are vividly described. Despite the novel's lack of an authentic sounding voice, its very modernity underlines its relevance for the self-deceptions within today's Church."

Michael Arditti, The Times

"…gently and persuasively subversive... it portrays the young Theodore as curious, sensual and very human, anxious to understand what exactly constitutes enlightenment, assailed by religious doubts and constantly at odds with the frequently irrational beliefs of the religious men surrounding him. The greatest strength of Harris's novel is the clear and simple presentation of its often complex moral ideas. Ultimately, this is a novel of curious decency, simply and movingly written by a first-time author of real promise."

Christopher Fowler, Independent on Sunday

"Theodore is a beautiful and poignant love story, examining the passion between twin souls-a love too intense to remain chaste. The author challenges us to consider that while Christianity owes a lot to such love, it will never acknowledge the debt."

Murrough O'Brien, Daily Telegraph

"…an interesting account of the homosexual saint's life during strange and turbulent times."

Andrew Crumey, Scotland on Sunday

"The fictional memoirs are both moving and inspiring in their honesty and the text is a compelling read. Theodore's sexual revelations and religious self-scrutiny draw the reader into a world far removed from own, yet develops themes relevant to these times."

MB, Buzz Magazine

"These fictional memoirs of Theodore of Tarsus, a homosexual priest with heretical tendencies who became Archbishop of Canterbury in the 7th century, will appeal to admirers of Memoirs of a Gnostic Dwarf."

Gay Times

"This is Harris's first novel and Dedalus…are to be commended for finding a new author of such talent and storytelling skill. This book was a pleasure to read."

Towse Harrison, the Historical Novel Society Review

"While we wait for the historical Theodore to emerge from the labours of professional scholarship, we have the Theodore of Christopher Harris's ambitious and wide-ranging novel to educate and entertain us."

Catherine Holmes, the Anglo-Hellenic Review

"…the author is adept at evoking the feel of the time, from the strange world of the Cappadocian monks and the hollow grandeur of Constantinople, to the decay of Rome and the squalor of England."

Roger White, Heritage Learning

False Ambassador

"Christopher Harris's first novel, Theodore, the heretical memoirs of a gay priest, was published to some acclaim last year. His second novel is no less eclectic. Beginning in 1428, this swashbuckling romp recreates a brutal medieval world on the cusp of civilisation. Despite his scholarly inclination, 15-year-old Thomas Deerham is sent by his father to be a soldier with the English Army. Our hero's adventures take us from savage encounters in France to Rome via Constantinople, with much murder, rape and pillaging along the way. At the slightest provocation, Thomas and friends whip out their swords to prove their manhood. When Thomas unwittingly adds fratricide to his already heavy burden of mortal sins, it is little wonder he seeks salvation. This authentically gory story requires a strong stomach and a sympathetic imagination."

Lisa Allardice, Independent on Sunday

"Set in Renaissance Europe, this entertaining novel tells the story of Thomas, a young soldier in the English army. After deciding to desert, he falls in with a gang if ruthless mercenaries, endures hideous privations, is enslaved and escapes the fall of Constantinople before ending up in Rome. Harris…has an imaginative grasp of the squalor and violence of the times…"

Angus Clarke, The Times

"…another fine historical tale from the author of Theodore. This time he takes on a journey through the bloody savagery and the no-less-bloody nobility of fifteenth-century Europe in a welter of mishap, mayhem and debauchery. An absorbing read that delights and disturbs in equal measure."

Sebastian Beaumont, Gay Times

"Journeys are a powerful theme for historical novelist Christopher Harris. His widely praised first novel Theodore ... described the odysseys of Theodore of Tarsus, the monk who not only travelled from Byzantium to become Archbishop of Canterbury early in the 7th century, but who also, according to Harris at least, navigated the paths of homosexual awakening. In his new novel, False Ambassador, Harris moves away from the early medieval world central to Theodore, and instead focuses on the embers of the middle ages. Yet here too the search for new geographical and mental horizons is foremost.

…It is a good yarn based on sound research. Harris does sex and violence well. Those who like such things strongly seasoned should sample his description of Thomas' degradation at the Feast of Misrule."

The Anglo-Hellenic Review

"Harris stays with history in this follow-up to Theodore. Renaissance Englishman Thomas Deerham deserts from the army in France and is launched on a journey that takes him round Europe and the near East. This voyage brings him in contact with the philosophy and heresies of his age, causing him to engage in a struggle with his own flawed soul."

Harry Blue, Scotland on Sunday

"well written and readable"

Historical Novel Society Review

"Harris has thoughtfully crafted a novel with a certain panoramic vision and a definite talent. Ultimately this book is suited for those interested in intelligent historical fiction."

Andrew Hook, The Third Alternative

Memoirs of a Byzantine Eunuch

"Harris clearly knows his stuff, and serves up a delightful mixture of political intrigue, personal ambition and amoral, polysexual debauchery."

Sebastian Beaumont, Gay Times

"Zeno, living in ninth-century Byzantium, has had a rough time of it. Taken from his native town and castrated by Norse pirates, he finds himself stranded by them in a tavern in the suburbs of Constantinople. Then, unsuspecting, he is swept off by the greatest missionary of the age to serve its greatest scholar, St Photius the Great (the inventor, incidentally, of the book review). Though his social status rises, his problems multiply: he must help his new master in his ambitions, seek out depravities for Michael III, and guard his adopted sister Eudocia. He fails, of course, as he is dragged ever deeper into the eerie world of the palace eunuchs, the real rulers of the empire.

Harris's style is bold and brisk…"

Murrough O'Brien, Independent on Sunday

"Novelist Christopher Harris had a top seller in 2000 with Theodore, the heretical memoirs of a gay priest who becomes Archbishop of Canterbury in the early years of the English church. Memoirs of a Byzantine Eunuch is in a similar mould… Harris has the gift of knowledge of ancient times so while writing a good yarn, he also treats us to clear presentations of the ideas of Aristotle, Plato and long-forgotten philosophers combined with observations about the development of Christian orthodoxy and the exotic nature of the castrated, or eunuchs. Zeno is captured by Barbarians, castrated as a boy, raised with girls and bought by a noted scholar because of his feigned knowledge of a barbarian language. Zeno develops a natural intelligence but is drawn into a labyrinth of sex, heresy, murder and plotting. An army general, a bisexual boy emperor, a peasant usurper and a half-Viking empress all compete for authority, but the real power lies among the decadent eunuchs of the palace and Zeno plays even more dangerous games until he is forced to betray those he loves. Amazing."

Ivan Willis, What's on in London

"I like historical novels, especially when they are presented well. Often so much will depend on the setting, and Byzantium in the ninth century, a hotbed of political and religious intrigue, is a perfect setting. Our hero is Zeno of Tmutorokan, and we follow his autobiography from capture and castration by the Norse to political pawn and manipulator at the courts of Emperors. Let's face it, you know a book is going to be good when the first chapter includes the question "How did I... come to be serving the Emperor Michael III at a heretical mass... while dressed in the cast-off vestments of a Metropolitan of Thessalonica?"

And it is good; a roistering tale of unfit kings and power-mad nobility, of freaks and wars, of sex in all guises and the theft of old books. There are so many moments that stun the reader, particularly a startling misuse of a Holy relic and a brutal journey through an underground prison, that I was almost lost trying to keep up. There is not a single character without an agenda, no innocents or impartials. Zeno plods through the chaos, trying to advance his schemes when he can, resolved to lackeydom when he cannot. This is one of the strengths of the novel: unlike the recent 'Ramses' books, the titular eunuch gets dumped upon (sometimes from a very great height indeed) on a regular basis. There is a real sense of distrust in Zeno's account, almost as if he fears to give out information as much as he feared to give it out at the time. The court is seen as a place of close-held cards, mirrored in its shiftiest inhabitant Theodore, whose book-thieving business is a metaphor for the underhand transfer of information the court thrives upon. Zeno and Theodore are occasional foes, and occasional allies, a pattern that moves as the eunuch's influence waxes and wanes: Zeno celebrates Theodore when he helps out, and berates him when he outsmarts the eunuch.

There are plenty of big names to please the history buff, including sniping about the scholar Constantine's new alphabet for the Bulgars (he will later be canonised as St. Cyril, and his alphabet is the Cyrillic of modern Russian) and Zeno is present at some of the major political upheavals of the time. Some of the murders take the reader by as much surprise as they do Zeno, unless you know your Byzantine history. Stylistically, Harris is believable, even having his Zeno qualify some of his reports as hearsay when he could not have been present. Many will dislike the out-and-out sexism shown by the scholars, but the emasculated Zeno naturally undermines these views together with his fellow eunuchs such as the fanatic Ignatius and the perverted Cyril. It might be a struggle, but if you can accept that the views of women are being undermined, you will find this an agreeable read. Zeno's life might read like a cross between a political thriller and trashy sex novel at times, but it's all good stuff. After all, what could there not be to like in a book concerned as much with heresy as it is with war, and as concerned with sex as it is with the progression of the Holy Spirit? It also has the rare distinction that a second reading will show just how well the "surprises" are planned, and like Zeno, the benefit of hindsight alters your view of what everyone does, and might also make you think that Zeno isn't quite what he seems... give this one a try. Look out for the birds though, for they are creatures of the devil."

Steve Penn, www.nthposition.com

"Ninth-century Constantinople is the backdrop for this courtly narrative of heresies and intrigues, but, although it has pace and confident characterisation, the pageant of orgies and blasphemies seems old-fashioned. The material about Zeno, the emasculated hero, is far more interesting, and questions the nature and social function of the eunuch."

Scotland on Sunday

"There is no doubt that Memoirs of a Byzantine Eunuch is an entertaining novel"

The Anglo-Hellenic Review

"Harris has managed to cram a lot of vibrant characters, history and action packed story into a modest sized book. To dismiss it as a decadent novel would be unfair as most of the sex and sin are vital to the plot and general ambience. Harris paints a very convincing picture of a place and time not often portrayed in fiction and having Zeno as the narrator made it all seem even more immediate. If you are looking for something a bit different, or just a jolly good read, I can recommend this one."

Rachel A Hyde, Historical Novels Review

Mappamundi

In the Italian city of Ancona in 1564. Pope Pius II dies. His mostly loyal English servant Thomas Deerham uses this as an opportunity to abscond, stealing a valuable book and a possibly even more valuable new map of the world. Thomas sets off home for England, but along the way, in Paris, he prevents a friar from committing suicide. The friar is not what he seems; indeed, he is the louche poet Francois Villon. The pair travels to England together. When they are close to death from freezing and starvation, they are rescued by the mysterious Christian Rosenkreutz, who has pursued them I for the map.

With the map and with another stolen book, an undecipherable "Tome" known today as the Voynich Manuscript, they charter a ship for a voyage of exploration across the Atlantic.

…contains vivid descriptions of the unlovely Europe and England of 1464

Worth buying…

Alan Fisk, Historical Novels Review