The author declares that he and his wife are spirits or demons, who have assumed the form of human beings in order to inflict the greatest possible evils upon mankind.

These accusations seem to be founded sometimes upon fact, sometimes upon vague rumours and blind gossip.

Generally speaking, the author of the "Secret History" seems sincere, but at the same time he shows a narrowness by confounding all Justinian's acts in one sweeping censure, and in attributing to him the most incredible refinements of political perversity.

Critics have asked the question whether the author of such a work can be Procopius of Caesarea, the impartial historian of the wars.

Direct proofs of authenticity are wanting, since the most ancient authors who attribute it to him--Suidas and Nicephorus Callistus--lived centuries later.[4] But it is easy to understand that a work of this kind could not be acknowledged by its author, or published during the lifetime of Justinian.