Raised in the Shade

Eunuchs were prominent figures in T&J era Byzantium, and the most notable by far was the general, Narses. But for those whose only touchstone for eunuch representation has been the character, Varys, from the HBO hit series Game of Thrones, consider this a masterclass in eunuch culture and physiology. One that explores eunuchs of both Qing dynasty and Ottoman imperial courts, as well as the singing eunuchs of post-Renaissance Europe — the castrati.