Product Description

During the fifth century BC, a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city-states united to repel a mighty Persian army. While the story of this heroic drama forms the main theme of Herodotus' narrative, the author's curiosity fleshes out the text with digressions, folk tales and stories.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #312215 in Books
• Published on: 1996-02
• Original language: Greek
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 688 pages

Customer Reviews

Herodotus is great, this translation is not
Herodotus' is not known as "The Father of History" and his "Histories" is arguably one of the greatest books of all time.

Part historiographer, part travel writer, Herodotus touches on all manner of subjects, at times humourous, at times in pain-staking detail and at times tragic.

Unfortunately, Selincourt's translation does not do Herodotus justice. He fails to capture the excitement of the Greek text, or Herodotus' often incredulous or gossipy style.

The text is dry and is written as one would write a history book today (or even perhaps, 50 years ago) rather than translated to convey the style in which it was written. It contains few significant inaccuracies but sticks fairly closely to the Hude's text.

I would reccommend Robin Waterfield's 1999 translation in the Oxford World Classics series. Here a consistant attempt has been made to capture Herodotus' spirit which suceeds marvellously.

One of the greatest texts ever!
This is essential reading for students of history, anthropology, and Hellenic events in general. Herodotus brings colour to his voyages to various parts of the ancient world, making this one of the best historical books ever. Just get it!