Synopses & Reviews
Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between Athens and Sparta “a possssion for all time,” and indeed it is the first and still most famous work in the Western historical tradition. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years,
The Peloponnesian War is a mine of military, moral, political, and philosophical wisdom.
Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between Athens and Sparta “a possssion for all time,” and indeed it is the first and still most famous work in the Western historical tradition. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years, The Peloponnesian War is a mine of military, moral, political, and philosophical wisdom.
However, this classic book has long presented obstacles to the uninitiated reader. Robert Strassler's new edition removes these obstacles by providing a new coherence to the narrative overall, and by effectively reconstructing the lost cultural context that Thucydides shared with his original audience. Based on the venerable Richard Crawley translation, updated and revised for modern readers. The Landmark Thucydides includes a vast array of superbly designed and presented maps, brief informative appendices by outstanding classical scholars on subjects of special relevance to the text, explanatory marginal notes on each page, an index of unprecedented subtlety, and numerous other useful features.
In any list of the Great Books of Western Civilization, The Peloponnesian War stands near the top. This authoritative new edition will ensure that its greatness is appreciated by future generations.
Review
Donald Kagan author of On the Origins of War and Pericles of Athens This is the best book with which to start study of Thueydides and the Peloponnesian War.
Review
Donald Kagan
author of On the Origins of War and Pericles of Athens
This is the best book with which to start study of Thueydides and the Peloponnesian War.
Review
Paul A. Rahne The Washington Times Without question, this is the finest edition of Thueydides history ever produced; It is a treasure.
Review
The Boston Globe Thoroughly readable....Anyone interested in the culture of conflict -- political as well as military, contemporary as well as ancient -- can learn much from this durable work.
Review
David Denby Los Angeles Times A magnificent edition of the great historian's The Peloponnesian War.
Synopsis
Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between Athens and Sparta "a possession for all time," and indeed it is the first and still most famous work in the Western historical tradition. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years, The Peloponnesian War is a mine of military, moral, political, and philosophical wisdom.
However, this classic book has long presented obstacles to the uninitiated reader. Robert Strassler's new edition removes these obstacles by providing a new coherence to the narrative overall, and by effectively reconstructing the lost cultural context that Thucydides shared with his original audience. Based on the venerable Richard Crawley translation, updated and revised for modern readers. The Landmark Thucydides includes a vast array of superbly designed and presented maps, brief informative appendices by outstanding classical scholars on subjects of special relevance to the text, explanatory marginal notes on each page, an index of unprecedented subtlety, and numerous other useful features.
In any list of the Great Books of Western Civilization, The Peloponnesian War stands near the top. This authoritative new edition will ensure that its greatness is appreciated by future generations.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 631-634) and index.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Robert B. Strasslerandlt;/Bandgt; is an unaffiliated scholar whose articles have appeared in the andlt;Iandgt;Journal of Hellenic Studies.andlt;/Iandgt; He lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Table of Contents
andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;CONTENTSandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Introductionandlt;/Iandgt; by Victor Davis Hansonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Editor's Noteandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Key to Map Symbolsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Calendar of the Peloponnesian Warandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Book Oneandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Book Twoandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Book Threeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Book Fourandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Book Fiveandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Book Sixandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Book Sevenandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Book Eightandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Epilogueandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Theaters of Operation in the Peloponnesian Warandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix A andlt;Iandgt;The Athenian Government in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Alan L. Boegehold, Brown Universityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix B andlt;Iandgt;The Athenian Empire in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Alan L. Boegehold, Brown Universityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix C andlt;Iandgt;Spartan Institutions in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Paul Cartledge, Clare College, Cambridge Universityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix D andlt;Iandgt;The Peloponnesian League in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Paul Cartledge, Clare College, Cambridge Universityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix E andlt;Iandgt;The Persians in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Robert B. Strasslerandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix F andlt;Iandgt;Land Warfare in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Victor Davis Hanson, California State University at Fresnoandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix G andlt;Iandgt;Trireme Warfare in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Nicolle Hirschfeld, University of Texas at Austinandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix H andlt;Iandgt;Dialects and Ethnic Groups in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;William F. Wyatt, Brown Universityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix I andlt;Iandgt;Religious Festivals in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Gregory Crane, Tufts Universityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix J andlt;Iandgt;Classical Greek Currency in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Thomas R. Martin, College of the Holy Crossandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix K andlt;Iandgt;Calendars and Dating Systems in Thucydidesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Thomas R. Martin, College of the Holy Crossandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Glossaryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bibliography of Ancient Sourcesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Concise Bibliography of Modern Sourcesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgmentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Indexandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Reference Mapsandlt;/Iandgt;