The Landmark Thucydides : A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War

This series really is the Gold Standard for historical texts from the ancient world. Every page is lavishly footnoted, with authoritative texts putting the source material into a wider context, in many cases with accompanying photographs or drawings. I would highly recommend it for any curious amateur historians.

Although the translation lacks the brilliance and gravity of Benjamin Jowett's rendition (this edition is based on Crawley's of 1874) it is more than adequate (so long as the reader does not hanker after Crawley's Victorianisms) ; but what sets this edition aside is the wonderful reference maps, footnotes, and explanatory material which enable the reader to follow the twists and turns of this epic story. It is understood that the whole of this work was perhaps still work-in-progress when Thucidides left it, his growing appreciation of the machinations of the Persians shows through at times. The account breaks off in the awful year of 411; Athens, tragically, was finally destroyed as a power in 405. Those readers who are familiar with Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" may wish to reflect on the portrayals of Pericles through his speeches and those of Oedipus; and Thucidides' description of the plague in Bk. 2.47 et seq. in 430. Pericles died in 429, the year in which the play was first performed, and the character of Oedipus and the memory of the plague would have been vivid in the minds of the audience.

A good translation well presented in a handsome hardback with an excellent selection of maps and notes to help you understand the text and follow the history it describes

Thucydides original and direct translation is excellent but challenging. Robert B Strassler however has distilled and presented this wonderful 2500 year old material in a highly accessible approach. The almost 3 decades long savage and brutal conflict from 431 to 404 BCE, between the two superpowers of the time, Athens and Sparta, seems to be more relevant than ever. Curiously enough, if one was to remove the weapons/arms technology from the context, the rest confirms that the traits of human behaviour remain almost unchanged. Politics, policies, diplomacy, strategies, tactics, peace treaties, logistics, rhetoric, revenge, retribution, intelligence, etc., are all in this magnificent history.

The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) is little known in present times, yet we could learn so much from it. The historian, the first in Europe, Thucydides, served in it and was exiled for failure to hold a fortress. It can be difficult reading (I've translated it), mainly because so many place names are now unfamiliar. Strassler does much to help with this. We don't know why the author never finished the work, after eight volumes in great detail. Books 6 and 7 are especially valuable in warning us against the urgings of charlatans, even now. I recommend this along with Kagan's work on the subject and Hutchinsons' 'Attrition'. Brutal as the conflict was, what followed was arguably worse still under a puppet government.

Excellent value for money. Clearly organised and concise. Language has been adapted for ease of reading without loss of accuracy. Illustrated with the just the right amount of maps - they are really informative and succint. The maps help position the reader in context across the whole book and also where he/she is in the historical events so brilliantly narrated by Thucydides. Cross references with other parts of the book are also quite helpful. A must-have item for political science, strategy and history students.

As a student at uni currently studying ancient history, I found this translation of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War to be incredibly helpful in understanding the chronology and the characters of the Peloponnesian War, and hugely useful for revision, what with the summaries, maps, references, index, and editing. Just sad there couldn't be more landmark histories for everything I'm studying!

Classic of Classics presented in a way that is for today but not loosing anything of the original.

Um clássico explicado, esmiúçado e colocado em contexto. Uma leitura extraordinária, arrebatadora.

十分な手ごたえがある。

Brilliant edition. A must-have must-read book.

Don't let the fact this book was written over 2,000 years ago sway you from reading it! I'll admit I was hesitant about reading Thucydides because I'm not a big fan of non-fiction or a serious military history buff, and more specifically, was never that interested in ancient Greek history. However, after I happened to watch the movie 300 (I know, that movie is basically all fantasy and action Hollywood style, but it was still good!) I became instantly fascinated by the history behind the movie and started buying books on the ancient Greeks to learn more. Prior to investing the money into purchasing this version of the History of the Peloponnesian War, I borrowed a different version at the library that didn't include maps or appendices to explain about ancient Greek society and life. That was a wrong move for a novice! It is imperative that you read Thucydides with lots of maps of ancient Greece so you can follow the narrative of battles taking place around Attica, Peloponnese, and surrounding islands. It is easier to understand what is going on if you have good maps. The Landmark Thucydides was very helpful in that regard. There are enough maps scattered throughout the book, in addition, with side margins and footnotes that I felt were very helpful for the beginner. The book is quite hefty so you'll have a hard time lugging it around, but all you really need is a quiet spot to settle down and read. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book didn't really read as a "history book". It had a story-like quality and feel to the narrative that I enjoyed immensely and I found myself quickly enthralled. At times I had to stop and remember that this author has been dead and gone for over 2,000 years. Thucydides' words literally came alive from the pages, and it was eerie how many things he observed so long ago still hold true today. I have only read this translation (Crawley), and although it isn't written in a direct style of English, I found it was surprisingly easy to read. It took me a few pages to become accustomed to it, but I became so engrossed in Thucydide's narrative that it wasn't really an issue for me. I would recommend reading this book slowly, it's not meant to be read quickly, but to savor and ponder over what you have just read. If you've ever had a passing interest in ancient Greek history, in particular ancient military battles, Thucydides would be a good starting point.

The maps and supporting information made reading this book easy and enjoyable.