A commentary on thucydides simon hornblower oxford. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Thucydides, the peloponnesian war, book 1, chapter 1. With great economy, he analyzes the origins of largescale wars. Dec 01, 2004 the history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. List of books and articles about thucydides online research. He argues that ancient critics were right to detect stylistic similarities between these two great exponents of the severe style in prose and verse.
All works on ancient greek history contain discussions of thucydides, and an interesting criticism is that of j. At the time, we were both young instructors at the university of michigan, and i sought his advice on how to teach thucydides. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. This is the first volume of a threevolume historical and literary commentary on the eight books of thucydides, the great fifthcentury bc historian of the. Reviewdiscussion simon hornblower, a commentary on thucydides, volume ii. Chapter i the state of greece from the earliest times to the commencement of the peloponnesian war thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war between the peloponnesians and the athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it. His great contribution to history and historiography is contained in this one dense history of the 27year war between athens and sparta, each alongside their respective allies. The top three reasons you should read thucydides foreign. Hornblower simon, a commentary on thucydides, volume ii. History of the peloponnesian warbook 3 wikisource, the. Here he sets up the conditions that led to the outbreak of the peloponnesian war in 431 b. Of the three books covered in this volume, book i presents thucydides aims in writing the work and the historical background to the war. The present volume of commentary covers the ten closelynarrated years 421411 bc, and nearly half of the total of eight books subdivisions of thucydides work. Thucydides book 1 summary the peloponnesian war an.
Ii 1996 of a historical and literary commentary on the history of the first 20 years of the twentysevenyear peloponnesian war between the athenians and spartans and their respective allies written by the great fifthcentury bc historian thucydides. Thucydides was an athenian and achieved the rank of general in the earlier stages of the war, and in this detailed, firsthand contemporary account he writes as both a soldier and a historian. The first book of thucydides is a compact masterpiece. This is the first volume of a twovolume historical and literary commentary on the eight books of thucydides, the great fifthcentury b. The war marks a turning point in ancient greek history as the golden age of greek dominance is changed in the region. The history of the peloponnesian war the internet classics. Now simon hornblower has comprehensively revised and partly rewritten his original text, bringing it uptodate for yet another generation of readers. He is the author and editor of many books see books by the same author.
Cornford, thucydides mythistoricus 1907, sought to prove that the history is really only an historical tragedy, i. He applies a passion for accuracy and a contempt for myth and romance in compiling a factual record of a ruinous conflict that would eventually destroy. The leagues were led by sparta and athens respectively. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Books ii and iii describe the main events of the first five years of the war 431426 and include pericles funeral oration, the plague of athens, the revolt of mytilene, the destruction of plataea, and. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book i, chapter 3.
Just as in a picasso drawing, it was all there in a few deft strokes. Now, back in the day, there would be no need to justify. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Antony spawforth is professor of ancient history, university of newcastle upon tyne. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Feb 03, 20 fourth and fifth years of the war revolt of mitylene. The third and final volume of the only commentary in english by a single author on the complete writings of thucydides, the great fifthcentury bc historian of the peloponnesian war. Nov 28, 1991 of the three books covered in this volume, book i presents thucydides aims in writing the work and the historical background to the war. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Thucydides cambridge texts in the history of political.
This volume ends this is the second volume of a threevolume historical and literary commentary of the eight books of thucydides, the great fifthcentury bc historian of the peloponnesian war. See all books authored by simon hornblower, including the greek world 479323 bc, and a commentary on thucydides. Simon hornblower is professor of classics and ancient history, university college london. This the third volume of trilogy on thucydides hardly disappoint. The third and final volume of the only commentary in english. This volume completes simon hornblowers most excellent commentary on thucydides. A literal translation of the first book of thucydides, with. Born in 1949, he was educated at eton college, where he was a kings scholar, at jesus college, cambridge, where he took a firstclass in part i of the classical tripos in 1969, and at balliol college, oxford, where he took firstclass honours in literae humaniores in 1971 ba and hence subsequently ma and a dphil in 1978 with a thesis entitled maussollos of karia.
The greek world 479323 bc has been an indispensable guide to classical greek history since its first publication nearly thirty years ago. Thucydides intended his work to be an everlasting possession and the continuing importance of his work is undisputed. A literal translation of the first book of thucydides, with notes, by h. This immensely learned tome represents a fine and weighty literally no less than metaphorically summation of hornblowers magnum opus, volume. As a general in the peloponnesian war he failed 424 bc to prevent the surrender of the city of amphipolis to the spartan commander brasidas and was exiled until the end of the war. Thucydides classic work is a foundational text in the history of western political thought. Sep 21, 2010 the top three reasons you should read thucydides your humble blogger is teaching thucydides history of the peloponnesian war this week. Thucydides is currently considered a single author. My understanding of thucydides springs from a fourbysixinch index card scribbled out for me many years ago by w. Buy a commentary on thucydides slp by hornblower, simon isbn.
The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides free. Simon hornblower s commentary, by translating every passage of greek commented on for the first time, allows readers with little or no greek to appreciate the detail of thucydides thought and subjectmatter. K agan wrote this apologia a defence of the athenian historian thucydides almost as a extended afterword for kagans own account of the peloponnesian war. The top three reasons you should read thucydides your humble blogger is teaching thucydides history of the peloponnesian war this week. Simon hornblower argues for a relationship between thucydides and pindar not so far acknowledged in modern scholarship. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Books ii and iii describe the main this is the first volume of a threevolume historical and literary commentary on the eight books of thucydides, the great fifthcentury bc historian of the peloponnesian war. I reading thucydides offers the agreeable feeling as of turning a lock with a key. Books ii and iii describe the main events of the first five years of the war 431426 and include pericles funeral oration, the plague of athens, the revolt of mytilene, the destruction of plataea, and civil war in corcyra. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Hornblower illuminates these ancient texts and makes the excitement as accessible and immediate as much more contemporary thrillers like the federalist papers. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years, the peloponnesian war is a mine of. A literal translation of the first book of thucydides. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app.
His narrative of the great war between athens and sparta in the fifth century bc is now seen as a highly sophisticated study of the nature of political power itself. The first unabridged translation into american english, and the first to take into account the wealth of thucydidean scholarship of the last half of the twentieth century, steven lattimores translation sets a new standard for accuracy and reliability. My only criticism is that a 3 volume set at 325 dollars a volume seem painfully underwritten. A commentary on thucydides by simon hornblower, hardcover. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. The top three reasons you should read thucydides foreign policy. Simon hornblower books list of books by author simon. After his death, thucydidess history was subdivided into eight books. Jul 18, 2018 written in the 5th century bc, the events of the war between the peloponnesian and delian leagues are detailed by thucydides.
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