"The Greeks" by Kitto is not a book that would normally appear even close to the top of anyone's reading list, unless you enjoy ancient history. What is a Hellene? Kitto explains it. What does the word polis come from? Kitto explains it. What is the Spartan ideal? Kitto explains it. It can be a dry book at times, but reading it carefully you will learn a lot about Greek culture. You will learn who were the Greeks, the Greek government systems, the Athens, the Spartans, and a polis. I suggest this book if you are read or study about ancient Greece. I suggest reading pages seven to ninety-five.

After reading Gates of Fire, I wanted to delve into classical Greek culture. This book is a great intro to Greece from Homer to Alexander. The book covers the history, culture, philosophy, arts, and "mind" of the ancient Greek - all in about 250 pages. It does a marvelous job of introducing the reader to the subject. It would be difficult to read this book and not be astonished by what this civilization accomplished. My only complaint is a nit: the author includes many references to 1950's England that I did not understand.

Ignoring this book in a study of the Greeks is like ignoring "Buckaro Banzai" in a study if Science Fiction movies. Old? Yes. Dated? Of course. Seminal? Without a doubt.

Read it right after you read "The Birth of Tragedy" or Campbell's "Occidental Mythology", that should make for a good one-two punch.

A must for anyone trying to understand Greek Tragedy, Greek & Roman religion, democracy, or why old dead white guys get all the press.