These are the four lectures on Byzantine intellectual achievements in the last century before the fall of the City to the Ottomans in 1453. Sir Stephen spends his time sorting through the reputation of the Byzantines as the Librarians of the Renaissance, and also explores the idea that some original work was done that manged to influence in some ways the Italian explosion of the Renaissance. While admitting that the influence was not massive yet he has been able to suggest to serious scholars of the intellectual roots of the Italian experience that some time could also be devoted to this last flare-up of non-Islamic thought emanating from the Middle east. The prose is literate and the bibliography has some useful entries for the student. ( )