The Peloponnesian War

Have read quite a bit of Greco-Roman writing, and this is among the most illuminating and influential. Historiography, empirical medicine, international relations theory, causal reasoning in the natural sciences, rhetoric, and many other features of western thought find some of their earliest "modern" expressions here. The characters themselves are also significant, reappearing in Platonic dialogues, are heavily represented among Plutarch's biographies, and elsewhere. As a result I've read and reread this book multiple times, and it now serves as a reference, so it's seen a good deal of abuse. Despite that the book has held together well. The binding has not creased, the pages are thick enough that most pens don't bleed through, and the text markers (section numbers and such) are up to the scholarly standard making cross referencing passages straightforward. The maps, critical apparatus and related endnotes were also appreciated, although perhaps a bit distracting at times (keeping a bookmark in the corresponding endnote section and another at the maps was helpful). If you're looking for a well priced version of this text that will hold up well over time, this OUP version does the job.

Thucydides work is a classic that has withstood the test of time of about 2500 years. When reading this you feel like you are reading the first history book(it's not Herodotus was first). This chronicles the history of the biggest war that was waged until that time. There is so much that happens. Treachery, plotting, deceit, tactics, strategy, politics, this history has more plot than most works of fiction. Interspersed through the history are some great orations. The translation is good and reads in straight forward prose. There is no wasted effort on the translators part with affectations or flowery language making this work quite accessible. The introduction is quite long, and uninteresting. Thucydides work speaks for itself and much of the authors intro should be condensed. The end notes would have been good and I wish I had read some of the reviews here, and read them as a reading companion. It would have made this work a little easier to digest.

The history is very fine, and this translation is clear. The forward is a little tedious however, even if the reviewer is credentialed. I highly recommend the book to people who might want to see how democracies can go aground, and how there is always a tendency for people to listen to and to elect people who tell them what they want to hear rather than what they should know. When an electorate does that, things do not turn out well.

This is a book ever American should read. It is a recipe for how to lose our democracy. And it is as modern as today's paper.

This is the classic telling of the war between Athens and Sparta. Not the sort of thing the average reader is probably going to look at. But if you want something from a contemporary of the period, this would be a start.

Without removing any of the necessary information included by Thucydides, this translation is readable. The story, of course, is filled with information that Thucydides considered "objective" history. It is often forgotten that this man actually fought in the Peloponnesian War. An interesting mix of intellect, perception, and militaristic ability.

A classic

“If you were like us you would do as we do,” (paraphrase)-Athenian leader before victory over the Melians. “The talk of rights comes only between equals.” (Paraphrase)—Melian Dialogue (q.v.)

This book tells the history of wars between Athens and Sparta from general and historian Thucydides. (460BC to 400BC) Some of the great battles have been fought between them. I purchased this book after reading The Histories by Herodotus. Historians and curious people will love this book. Language translation is good and easy to follow. The book also contains maps of that time.

One of my favourite books.

looks ok

Classic ancient battles

A lateral do livro veio suja, lamentável.