The Greek Histories: The Sweeping History of Ancient Greece as Told by Its First Chroniclers: Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Plutarch (Hackett Classics Ser.)

Synopsis

From the leading scholars behind The Greek Plays, a collection of the best translations of the foremost Greek historians, presenting a sweeping history of ancient Greece as recorded by its first chroniclers&“Just the thing to remind us that human history, though lamentably a work in progress, is always something we can understand better.&”—Sarah Ruden, translator of The Gospels and author of The Face of WaterThe historians of ancient Greece were pioneers of a new literary craft; their work stands among the world&’s most enduring and important legacies and forms the foundation of a major modern discipline. This highly readable edition includes new and newly revised translations of selections from Herodotus—often called the &“father of history&”—Thucydides, Xenophon, and Plutarch, the four greatest Greek innovators of historical narrative. Here the reader will find their most important, and most widely taught, passages collected in a single volume. The excerpts chart the landmark events of ancient Greece and provide a comprehensive account of the entire classical Greek age. From the start the Greek historians demonstrated how broad and varied historical writing could be and brought their craft beyond a mere chronicle of past events. This volume explores each author&’s interest in religion, leadership, character, and the lessons of war. How, for instance, should readers interpret Herodotus&’ inclusion of speeches and dialogues, dreams, and oracles as part of the &“factual&” record? What did Thucydides understand about human nature that (as he said) stays constant throughout time? How did Plutarch frame historical biography as a means of depicting the moral qualities of great men? Complete with introductions to the works of each historian, footnotes providing context and explaining obscurities, maps, and an appendix on the Greek conduct of war, this volume is an invaluable resource for students and passionate readers of history alike.

Copyright:

2003

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

232 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781984854315

Related ISBNs:

9781984854322

Publisher:

Random House Publishing Group

Date of Addition:

12/22/23

Copyrighted By:

Penguin Random House

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

History, Military, Nonfiction, Literature and Fiction

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.

Edited by:

Mary Lefkowitz

Edited by:

James Romm