Cease Writing of Achilles: A Narratological Commentary on the Byzantine Heroic Poem Digenis Akritis

This volume offers a narratological commentary on Digenis Akritis, a Byzantine heroic poem that blends epic and romance. How does the narrator shape the story? What roles do characters, space, and time play in creating meaning? In a detailed introduction followed by a linear commentary, Markéta Kulhánková answers these questions through a close reading of the poem’s structure and techniques. She also examines how Digenis Akritis engages with earlier traditions through imitation and transtextuality, while presenting a unique frontier hero. Offering clear, accessible tools for understanding Byzantine narrative, the book is an essential resource for students and scholars alike. It invites readers to view Digenis Akritis as both a product of its time and a timeless tale.

Markéta Kulhánková is a researcher at the Czech Academy of Sciences and an associate professor at Masaryk University. Her research focuses on Byzantine narrative, with additional interests in the modern reception of Byzantium. She also translates Byzantine and Modern Greek literature into Czech.