The most prominent Byzantine historian of the European Middle Ages, the princess Anne Komnene is most famous for the epic Alexiad , which marks a departure from the tradition of Byzantine history writing. It provides a vivid account of the state and society of Byzantium and the many clashes with the West during the period of the First Crusade (1081-1118). This critical anthology explores the life of Anne Komnene, the Byzantine context in which she wrote, and the impact of the Alexiad on her times and on subsequent historical works of literature.