Description
Book SynopsisThis is the second volume of a three-volume historical and literary commentary of the eight books of Thucydides, the great fifth-century BC historian of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. Books IV-V. 24 cover the years 425-421 BC and contain the Pylos-Spakteria narrative, the Delion Campaign, and Brasidas'' operations in the north of Greece. This volume ends with the Peace of Nikias and the alliance between Athens and Sparta. A valuable feature of this volume is the full thematic introduction which discusses such topics as Thucydides and Herodotus, Thucydides'' presentation of Brasidas, Thucydides and kinship, speech - direct and indirect - in IV-V. 24, Thucydides and epigraphy (including personal names), IV-V. 24 as a work of art: innovative or merely incomplete? Thucydides intended his work to be `an everlasting possession'' and the continuing importance of his work is undisputed. Simon Hornblower''s commentary, by translating every passage of Greek commented on, for th
Trade ReviewReview from previous edition No one will dispute the brilliance of the author; few, if any, would have contemplated such a task, or done it better ... H.'s commentary is of enormous value, and will very likely last as long as Gomme's commentary, if not longer, as a primary point of reference for any serious endeavour to understand individual Thucydidean passages, as well as in this volume offering a valuable methodological approach that will give continuing impetus to further analysis ... for years to come, we will all turn to H. when we want to understand more about Thucydides, and much else besides. * The Classical Review *
The commentary offers many valuable insights and observations ... scholars and students will consult H. with profit * Journal of Hellenistic Studies *
Few, if any, can be more knowledgeable or versatile: every page pullulates with original, apposite and enlightening comments and ideas. No teacher of Thucydides or Greek history can afford to be without this book to hand. H's productive capacity and up-to-date mastery of the field is phenomenal ... school teachers have every reason to be indebted to him. * JACT Review *
Table of ContentsIntroduction ; COMMENTARY ; Book IV ; Book V. 1-24
