The Lost History of Peter the Patrician - Annotated Translation

In this review of The Lost History of Peter the Patrician, the reviewer finds a focused scholarly resource aimed at readers interested in late Roman imperial history and historiography. Thomas Banchich's annotated translation collects the fragments attributed to Peter and related pieces often linked to the Anonymous Continuer, presenting them with clear commentary that clarifies their relationship to Cassius Dio. For those seeking a historically grounded, readable introduction to an increasingly important source for the third and fourth centuries A.D., this edition is the single best reason to buy.

Key Features

• Annotated translation: The text supplies a full English rendering of the surviving fragments so non-Greek readers can access Peter's narrative of imperial events.
• Editorial commentary: Banchich's notes explain the historiographical connections between Peter's fragments and the so-called Anonymous Continuer, aiding source criticism.
• Focus on history not philology: The introduction and notes emphasize historical interpretation, making the work useful to historians rather than textual critics.
• Introduction to Peter: The volume opens with a concise account of Peter the Patrician's life and career, situating him as a diplomat and court administrator at Justinian's court.
• Consolidated fragments: The book includes both Peter's fragments and additional portions commonly discussed with Cassius Dio's continuer, providing a wider perspective on late Roman narrative tradition.

Who It's For

This edition is best for graduate students, historians, and serious readers of late antiquity who need a defensible English translation and scholarly apparatus to interpret fragmentary sources for the third and fourth centuries A.D. It will serve as a research reference or a complementary text for seminars on imperial administration and historiography.

It is less appropriate for general readers seeking a continuous narrative history or for those wanting a heavily philological, text-critical edition. Anyone needing a beginner-level survey of the period should pair this with a general history rather than rely on fragments alone.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides an accessible English translation of otherwise scattered Greek fragments for researchers and students.
• Banchich's annotations clarify the complex relationship to Cassius Dio and the Anonymous Continuer, improving interpretive context.
• Introduction situates Peter as an important administrative figure at Justinian's court, adding useful biographical context.

Cons

• The volume emphasizes historical interpretation over philological detail, which may disappoint specialists seeking exhaustive textual apparatus.

Specifications

Title	The Lost History of Peter the Patrician
Translator / Editor	Thomas Banchich
Content	Annotated English translation of Greek fragments and related pieces
Focus	Historical and historiographical interpretation
Includes	Introduction on Peter, fragment collection, scholarly annotations
Historical range	Third and fourth centuries A.D. material, with Justinian-era context

Our Verdict

For readers who require a reliable, annotated translation to work directly with fragmentary sources, this edition is a strong value: it brings together scattered material and provides interpretive commentary that illuminates Peter's place in late Roman historiography. Scholars and advanced students will find it particularly useful, while casual readers may prefer a more continuous history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition include the original Greek?
The book presents an English translation with annotations; its emphasis is translation and historical explanation rather than a full Greek critical apparatus.

Is the work suitable for classroom use?
Yes; the introduction and notes make it suitable as a seminar text for courses on late antiquity and imperial administration, especially for focused source study.

Does it cover Cassius Dio material?
It includes fragments often associated with the Anonymous Continuer and discusses their relationship to Cassius Dio, helping readers evaluate authorship and continuity.