This is one of those books that glosses a well-known translation of a great work and gives all manner of reference notes based on, in the case of Thucydides' work, book and paragraph numbers. Often these types of books could be made a thousand times more helpful if they had just included a well drawn list or glossary of, say, in the case of Thucydides, states and islands and provinces and etc. that are on the side of the Athenians, and then one for the allies of the Spartans. Also, in basic, clear terms, give a sense of where these places actually are by associating them with modern countries and cities (in this book this is done for some locations, but it's not done consistently, for whatever reason). Also, a list of major historical figures with basic, clear, short bio's, and then a list of minor figures, etc. Basically things that would be easy to draw up that would give immediate, basic perspective just in the who, what, and where categories. As to the 'when' category, this, in Thucydides, is also always a hazy thing, and there must be a useful way to simply put historical time in perspective for these events without having to calculate backwards (B.C. or B.C.E. time) and wonder if 'winter campaigns' refers to prior or after the turn of the year and etc. (This ideally should all be done by the reader with a pen and notebook as you read the work, but, if you're going to write a 'commentary' to begin with... I mean, plays have lists of Dramatis Personae at the beginning for the reader to get their bearings a little...) In this work - A Historical Commentary on Thucydides (A Companion to Rex Warner's Penguin Translation) by David Cartwright - other than the stark paragraph by paragraph, book by book historical references and definitions there are, sprinkled in, short paragraph summaries of various events, and in the middle of the book there are five maps, very simply drawn and easy to read. It has a good, full index, a short glossary on common Greek words and terms defined throughout the book, and short introductory essays on the life, intellectual background, and aims and method of Thucydides. The main content of this book, though, is indespensable. It's obviously geared toward the general reader, and any secondary source that helps a person get their arms around Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War is worth acquiring if you can find it. There don't seem to be many available, other than the more academic oriented commentaries and etc. If you see Thucydides' work as a sort of historical bible, a basic influence for being presented with and understanding universal and foundational historical patterns and events, the nature of power, the nature of human nature, etc., and you really want to get the work down in perspective and memory then this book is something you'll want...

The Thucydides edited by Terry Wick comes from an older translation that has a rather good reputation. I found that this version was easier to read than the esteemed 'landmark' edition (which has summaries, pictures, and maps), because there is more text and less distraction! Not much room in the margins, though, unfortunately. All in all, this translation is literal and generally quite good -- a good choice for studying or pleasure. However, most people I've spoken to have LOVED the landmark, so I also do not hesitate to suggest it.

The text itself will drag in places if you are not completely gung-ho for everything about war. However, contained within are a lot of remarkable insights about the human condition which have remained stable for thousands of years. Well worth the struggle.

Homer filled his pages mostly with myth, with some general facts which remotely relate to history. Herodotus wrote mostly history, with a few myths and prophecies interspersed here & there.

With Thucydides, we get the first book in western culture that is 100% purely devoted to history. The historian expresses his disinterest in speculation about the will of the gods while turning his attention solely to factual accounts of the Peloponnesian War.

The present text discloses T's history, all dressed up in the eloquent, occasionally verbose prose of the 17th century philosopher, John Hobbes. David Grene of the university of Chicago does a credible job of auditing Hobbes' translation, pointing out errors, mis-interpretations & omissions in the text.

This work contains all of the most salient episodes of the war, from the funeral oration of Pericles (Book II), the unsteady truce between Athens & Sparta (Book V) and the disastrous Sicilian expedition (VI & VII). The latter proved to be the crippling blow which sealed the defeat of Athens. Less known, but equally poignant, is what Princeton's Michael Sugrue would call the "Big Fish Eat Little Fish" oration which the Athenians deliver to the Melians (Book V) before wiping them out.

Hobbes metes out ample attention to each major event, carefully crafting his diction with the efficacy of delivering the desired effect. However, there are times when his sentences get a bit syrupy & are a bit long. It does not help matters that Thucydides constantly skips around to diverse engagements, both major & minor, not always making it clear whom or what he is referring to. While it is fairly simple to keep track of the major players in the war (i.e.: Athens, Sparta, Argos, Syracuse, Corinth, Thebes, etc) it becomes increasingly difficult to follow all of the minor provinces involved as the war goes on. Of course, the people in T's day were already familiar with whom was aligned with whom, so detailed explanations of Greek alliances are omitted. This can be a obstacle for the modern reader.

All in all, tho, this is a credible translation to one of the most monumental works of history ever composed. Within these pages we discover the nobility and wisdom of Pericles, the treachery of Alcibiades, the violence and short-sightedness of Cleon and the effective generalship of Nicias. The most poignant aspects of the period all surface without any ambiguity; the arrogant hubris of the Athenians, the resilience of the Lacedaemonians and the determination of the Syracusians. Hobbes should be applauded for pulling off one of the best English translations of Greek history ever recorded.

I undertook the project of reading the Greek Classics with a bit of trepidation and found some translations that read like the King James Bible, pompus and barely recognizable as English. I could not put down Steven Lattimore's translation. The funeral oration of Perikles was so beautiful tears came to my eyes as I read it to my wife.

I liked that portion of the book so much that I researched it and discovered that I was not alone in being impressed by it, and that it is considered some of the greatest writing ever. I compared the same passage in several tranlations found most of the to use somewhat archaic words that do not quite have the impact that they do to a modern reader as the words in Lattimore's translation.

Robert B. Strassler's edition of the famous Richard Crawley translation of Thucydides is a remarkable work, not only because of its intrinsic merit but also because it is quite simply unique. Mr. Strassler has provided the ultimate in critical apparatus, an exhaustive series of tools with which to understand and appreciate one of the great books of world civilisation. I have never seen anything like it. First of all, there is the index; if an index can be said to be a work of art, the Strassler index is a work of art in the way it organises and informs the text. Next there are the maps - dozens of them - not clumped together in the middle of the book or hidden away at the end, but strategically placed throughout the appropriate points in the text, right at the reader's fingertips when he or she needs them. The footnotes (yes footnotes, not those pesky and inconvenient endnotes!) would fill a small volume of their own and add immeasurably to one's understanding. And as if this were not enough, there are 11 appendices - short essays by prominent classical scholars on different aspects of the Greek world in the time of Thucydides, from "Athenian Government" and "Trireme Warfare" to "Religious Festivals" and "Classical Greek Currency." As far as I am concerned, the only problem with Mr. Strassler's edition is that is has made me greedy for more of the same - a similar edition of the Mahabharata, say, or Gibbon! Any takers?

Robert Strassler has done a remarkable editing job with Thucydides' Peloponnesian War. He has included three key features which provide the reader much luxury:

One, he has provided maps throughout the text, to the extent of repetition, to ensure that textual geographic references are always accompanied, in close proximity, cartographically.

Two, he has provided paragraph summaries on the margin throughout the work so that a reader, who has put the edition down for any length of time, may refresh their memories quickly by reading as many of these one to two sentence summaries as necessary.

Three, as Thucydides provides his narrative in chronological order, he must often leave one narrative to begin another. Strassler has provided a thread to follow each narrative through to its' end by way of footnotes.

These editorial enhancements greatly enrich the reading experience and would be a welcome addition to any historical text.

Thucydides, himself, presents the reader with a narrative unromanticized, strictly adhering to the events of the Peloponnesian War. His work possesses many passages that rivet the reader, but also contains areas where the sheer and voluminous recitation of fact can render one foggy. This is not a book for the light-hearted, though Strassler's editorial enhancements make for a pleasurable experience. It is, in short, a classic which has been classically edited.

This book presents a wonderful way to read Thucydides. While the introduction and appendices can be quite helpful to the non-specialist, the edition's greatest strengths are its translation and its maps. Crawley's is truly the definitive English translation, doing justice to Thucydides' majestic, albeit sometimes dense, prose. At the same time the maps make reading it a real pleasure. The Peloponnesian War ranged all across the Greek world, and most editions force you to constantly flip back to a few small and confusing maps in a feeble attempt to follow it. This volume entirely relieves you of that burden, removing all obstacles to the enjoyment and appreciation of this classic.

For those further interested in Thucydides and the war he recounts, I highly recommend Donald Kagan's four-volume analysis of the Peloponnesian War. An up-to-date, thoroughly scholarly work, it is also very accessible to the non-expert and well-written to boot. For expanded views and interpretations of the war, as well as an evaluation of Thucydides himself, pick up any one of his volumes.

By the rank,subject, and age of this book, I doubt many, if anyone, will read this review. Thus, if you are reading these words, you are probably one of the few who already enjoys reading about ancient history and are just trying to decide which book in this area you will read next. If this is you, read this book.

Personally I knew some things, but not much about this war. Kagan discusses, in detail, the views of three of four historians on the causes and origins of the war, how the war could of been avoided, and how it was fought. What is maddening is that he often repeats what two or three people say, and then tells you why they are are wrong.

If you are not familiar with the war, this approach can be confusing. However, if you have time or already familiar with the "Archidamian War", this book is very satisfying. After reading this book, you will have a clearer understanding about the war and the people who fought it.

Personally, I am a political junkie. I found myself so fascinated with the stunning details about the passions and politics of these people that they seemed as clear and as relevent to me as any story in the news today.

This is Kagan's gift. With marvelous use of analogies plucked from every time and corner of history, he shows how Thuclyides was right, events repeat themselves. The form is always a little different, but often almost the same as some past drama. This 2500 years old war is relevent today, not just for drama or historians, but for both moderen politicians and military stratigists. If we choose to listen.

My only concern for this book is that, with the gaps in the records, much of Kagan work is as much fiction as history. He tells us what he believes to be the most probable reasons why this event occured or why something else happened. But, in the end, those are only educated deductions from the record, not what actually happened. Kagan, in particular, sees man as more rational creature then, in my view, he actually is. Men and women often do things for no reasons or, for very bad ones. Kagan assumes city-states were more rational then men, when a city-state is just a collection of men. Men who are very irrational at times.

Still, this is a small criticism. The book is great. Read it and remember, it is easier to learn from other's mistakes then to make them yourself. Thank you Mr. Kagan.

This is perhaps the most important of Kagan's four books, because it contains the central plank of his thesis. Even though the Archidamian War closed with a tactical victory for the Athenians, as Kagan shows, the war (the opening conflict in the thirty year Pelopponesian wars) left the city-state economically crushed and strategically vulnerable. In this respect, the thesis in this book reminds me of Tolstoy's thesis in War and Peace concerning the Battle of Borodino. Tolstoy had argued that the outcome of this conflict (a nominal win for Napoleon) was in fact a strategic catastrophe for the French. Similarly, Pericles, for all his brilliance, fixed upon a strategy throughout this war which bled Athens white and left it utterly unprepared for another long-term struggle. A powerful history indeed.

I agree with Mr. Lafianza's review except for his criticism. At first the analysis may be annoying, but one should quickly see its benefits. By looking at several different explanations and pointing out their failings, Kagan reiterates his main themes, strengthens his own point, underlines the importance of certain events, and makes understanding these events clearer for the layman by slowly moving through the events and never going so fast that a given situation does not make sense.

The book is wonderful and if the subject interests you, there is none better.

An excellent account of the destructive war between Athens and Sparta from 431 to 404 B.C. The book details three theaters of war--mainland Greece, Sicily and Asia Minor. Thucydides is probably at his best when he details speeches given by various statesmen or generals (even if they are most probably fictitious or highly suspect). This book is, in my opinion, much more engaging than Herodotus' "Histories". I would try to convince anyone to buy this book. Read it!

Thucydides fought in the Peloponnesian War and probably attended some of the parliamentary debates in Athens which he so faithfully chronicles. His accounts of the diplomatic manoevring over Corcyria, his narrative of the breakdown of social order, and Pericles funeral oration are immortal. Together with Herodotus, this forms the sourcebook for the critical events of ancient Greek military history. On a whim, however, I have docked the classic master one star, on the utterly prosaic grounds that old Thu's account doesn't actually cover ALL of what is now known as the Peloponnesian War, not only omitting some of the lead-up events but also leaving the reader dangling in suspense at the end. One might think this prosaic, but then again of all the ancient writers, Thucydides was the most prosaic, so I'm sure he wouldn't begrudge this.

Thucydides, half a generation after the "father of history" Herodotus, is an amazing, analytical, concise (though side tracking) trip through one of the most interesting ancient wars.

Historical arguments run as to the exact order that the text should be presented in, but this appears to be the excepted norm. A thoughtful and deep look into the war that tore apart the ancient Greek world, this is the original "Clash of the Titans."

Thucydides employs the use of rhetorical and artistic forms to put forth major speeches and to give us a glimps into selected sections and minor scirmishes that led to the war between Athens and Sparta.

Rather than the traditional Homeric theory that Wars happened because of the actions of a few people in high places, Thucy. looks to larger social and international reasoning. There is no "it's because of the gods," but instead a deep look at human nature and the way that we behave.

A general in the war, and later this historian and writer, Thucy. looks at the human condition logically and uses a medical perspective to break things down as if war, and even human nature were a disease that we have yet to cure. This is genius.

He begins with the theory that the only important things are: men, money and ships. This returns again and again throughout the entire work until we see how ironical this statement was, and that he has been slowly dragging us along to follow his theories.

Wonderfully writen and amazingly ahead of its time, this history should be on everyone's shelf; after they have read it at least once.

If you have to or want to read the History of the Peloponnesian War, this is the book to have by your side. Insightful, well researched and loaded with references it painstakingly walks through each of the eight books providing historical context and comment. I found it somewhat heavy on the classical interpretation of the various episodes, but all in all I ended up turning to this book more often than the Peloponnesian War. Good Work

Thuc is generally acknowledged as being a difficult writer to read, especially for students only a few years into their studies, but this edition eases the reader into his style. Copious notes aid the reader with the more trying sentences and helpful "summaries" give an overview of important sections. I think I've read someone describing the treatment here of Perikles' Funeral Oration as a "tour de force" - and, considering Perikles' (or Thuc's?) at times bafflingly scattered sentence structure, it is certainly helpful to have someone such as this author to guide you along. I did come out of this experience with a bittersweet affection for Thuc, and it was partly due to this edition of the Greek text. Mr J F Rusten knows his stuff and I'm really glad he's chosen to share that knowledge.

This book deals with one of the most philosophical observers on the human condition in the most boring and "scholarily" manner. Consider that Orwin has spent over 15 years writing this, it should read better than an average graduate student paper. Orwin's take, for example, on the Plague is formulac and vague. (how many times can Orwin use the word, "body" to explain this passage?) Much more could have been said on the plagues relationship to political ideas, for example. Overall, this work serves to illustrate that Orwin is better suited to write as a journalist and not someone concerned with ideas.

Thucydides was a grand historian; as such presents facts at the best of his knowledge; therefore studying Thucydides we do not study his political views but the politics prevailing in classical greece. There are two kinds of works in political philosophy: those constructing a theory and those analyzing existing ones.

It is this latter the theme of the work of Mr Orwin; in specific he analyzes the political practicies of the Pelloponesian War; and as such it is a study of interstate relations, since greek cities were city-states.

One has to congratulate Mr Orwin for been able through an adequate understanding of greek political theory (as reported by Thucidides, but NOT formed by him) to point out how modern these theories are (especially the Melos Chapter should be read by any student of interstate relations).

Recommended warmly!

As a relative new-comer to the delights of Thucydides I was at first a little in awe of the author's obvious scholarship. The book was rigorous and well-ordered, as I had expected, having heard much of Timothy Rood's abilities while at University. In particular, the areas of the book where Mr Rood moved from the specific to the general were a delight, and I hope that he should see fit to expand his horizons a little were he to author another work in this field. Chapter 5 of the book, where he animadverts to the inevitable tension between the narrative and dialogic elements of the "History", is particularly luminous. Areas that could have been explicated better include the bizarre episode involving the bathing of soldiers' feet in hot water, referred to in Chapter 7, something that has mystified Thucydides scholars for years, and the barely comprehensible references to drunkenness that pepper later parts of the "History". Aside from those few omissions and a litter of singular infelicities of expression in the last two chapters, the work is a numinous one, indispensable for all advanced students wishing to immerse themselves, to quote Gustave Sephier, in "the clamorous and vociferating uproar of Thucydidean narrative".