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Translated by George Rawlinson, Introduction by Francis R.B. Godolphin ... Read more

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The Persian Wars
Not being an expert in translations from ancient Greek to English, I can only comment that I got what I wanted out of the MP3 CD. To learn about the Persian Wars. The narrator is easy to understand, and made a worthwhile presentation. ... Read more

Book Description
Book IX of Herodotus' Histories is the conclusive climax to his work, as the victories at Plataea and Mycale complete the improbable Greek victory over Persia. This English commentary treats Herodotus' work as historical narrative and as literature, incorporating the results of recent scholarly research in Greek history and historiography. It contains a Greek text and detailed philological, literary, and historical notes designed to assist the intermediate Greek student. ... Read more

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From Great Authors are Great Books apt to come forth!
This is the first time that I ever studied Herodotus. Nevertheless, Donald Lateiner's excellent introduction allowed even a novice like me to gain an understanding of the marvelous world which Herodotus describes, of the historian himself and of his methods, and of the lasting influence of 'The Histories.' The translation by G.C. Macauly is very lyrical and a true joy to read (I cannot, unfortunately, compare it to other translations). Donald Lateiner provides a list of the other major translations of 'The Histories' for those who are interested. As for 'The Histories' themselves, what can I possibly say: they are the most comprehensive view of ancient Europe and the Middle East ever penned. Here are wonders to amaze the soul, forgotten realms and far away lands, tales of the common people as well as the greatest kings, and philosophies to enlighten and transcend the mind. History at its finest. Herodotus not only wrote the first prose narrative, but also one of the best!!! I wish I could give it an infinite number of stars- a mere five is simply not enough! ... Read more

Book Description
1899. With a critical and biographical introduction by Basil L. Gildersleeve. Illustrated. The father of history as Cicero called him, and a writer possessed of remarkable narrative gifts, enormous scope, and considerable charm, Herodotus has always been beloved by readers well versed in the classics. Contents: Clio; Euterpe; Thalia; Melpomene; Terpsichore; Erato; Polymnia; Urania; and Calliope. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

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Critics of Herodotus have generally shown an unease in the face of the religious passages of the Histories, a sense that he 'lets himself down' by delving into matters irrelevant to the proper purpose of history. They have tended consequently to latch on to isolated instances of scepticism in an attempt to vindicate Herodotus from imagined charges of obscurantism. Historians of Greek religion, on the other hand, by their concentration on ritual as the central feature of Greek religious experience, have often neglected the value of literary sources as evidence of religious belief; indeed the term belief has become something of a dirty word. In this book, the first full-length study of the subject in English, Dr Harrison not only places Herodotus' religious beliefs at the centre of his conception of history, but by seeing instances of scepticism and of belief in relation to one another redresses the recent emphasis on the centrality of ritual, and paints a picture of Greek religion as a means for the explanation of events. ... Read more

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In Greek thought, barbaroi are utterers of unintelligible or inarticulate sounds. What importance does the text of Herodotus's Histories attribute to language as a criterion of ethnic identity? The answer to this question illuminates the empirical foundations of Herodotus's pluralistic worldview. The first translator of cultures also translates, describes, and evaluates foreign speech to a degree unparalleled by other Greek ancient authors. For Herodotus, language is an area of interesting but surprisingly unproblematic difference, which he offers to his audience as a model for coming to terms in a neutral way with other, more emotionally charged, cultural differences.

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Simply wonderful
De Selincourt is the translator of the Penguin 'Histories' of Herodotus, and although I prefer Oxford version by Waterfield, I just love this book.

Much more than just a guide to the 'Histories' (which are so entertaining and clear as to hardly need one), this is a wide-ranging introduction to the life, thought, literature, and history of the Classical Greek world, focusing on the earlier period when Herodotus wrote (500BC).

As humane, balanced, and passionate as Herodotus himself, with lovely old-fashioned prose. This is a reprint from the 1960s, it puts to shame most histories written now, which tend to be either condescending or chillingly post-modern (often both). It's refreshing to read a historian who loves his subject and isn't afraid to enthusiastically share his love with his readers.There's a good look at what is know today about the events Herodotus wrote about; also chapters on philosophy, the cultures of the islands, the position of women, etc. There's also some first-rate translations of poetry, including a passage from the 'Iliad' which is best version I've ever read, it's a real shame the author never attempted the whole thing.

I picked up a copy last year in the UK and it's great to see it issued here. If you need reminding why the Greek world was so inspirational and revolutionary, this is the book to get. ... Read more

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If you want to understand how strange Herodotus really is. . .
this is to my mind the only translation for you. Herodotus was not a historian; rather, he was an inquirer, and a displayer of inquiry. I've never read another translation that captures the profound uncertainty about the operation of the universe that radiates from every sentence of his Greek.

The ancient world is a wonderfully unfamiliar place, once you've let go of your preconceptions: reading Grene's Herodotus is a very good way to start letting them go. ... Read more

Book Description
Herodotus' Histories can be read in many ways. Their literary qualities, never in dispute, can be more fully appreciated in the light of recent developments in the study of pragmatics, narratology, and orality. Their intellectual status has been radically reassessed: no longer regarded as naïve and `archaic', the Histories are now seen as very much a product of the intellectual climate of their own day - not only subject to contemporary literary, religious, moral and social influences, but actively contributing to the great debates of their time. Their reliability as historical and ethnographic accounts, a matter of controversy even in antiquity, is being debated with renewed vigour and increasing sophistication. This Companion offers an up-to-date and in-depth overview of all these current approaches to Herodotus' remarkable work. ... Read more

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Both volumes in a single file, translated by Macaulay. ... Read more

Book Description
Designed for students with little or no background in ancient Greek language, history, and culture, this new abridgment presents those selections that comprise Herodotus' historical narrative. These are meticulously annotated, and supplemented with a chronology of the Archaic Age, Historical Epilogue, glossary of main characters and places, index of proper names, and maps. ... Read more

Book Description
Herodotus has been called by Cicero and other ancient critics `the father of history'. He was in fact the first to make the events of the past the subject of research and verification (historie) and then relate their consequences to the present. The main subject of his Histories is the struggle between Persia and Greece from the time of Croesus to that of Xerxes; added to this are frequent digressions, varying in length, giving a wealth of information on customs and cultures of people foreign to the Greeks.The new paperback edition of How and Wells's standard commentary on the Histories (in print continuously since 1912) deals with the last five books (out of nine) covering Sparta under King Cleomenes, the Battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis, and the final rout of the Persians at Plataea in 479 BC. The detailed commentary, though of interest to the scholar, is aimed primarily at the student: short summaries introduce the subject-matter of sections of the text, and there are eight appendixes addressing problems raised in the commentary. This volume also contains an index to the complete commentary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Makes a somewhat difficult work easy and fun
I used this commentary years ago. Without it, much of this book, the delight of which is in detail and nuance, would have remained obscure for me. the primary emphasis is on the Greek text, but there is a real wealth of historical information to be found here as well. The first four books of Herodotus, in particular, display a narrative richness deriving from what we would now call travel literature, anthopology, and legend. Herodotus was speaking to an educated and somewhat cosmopolitan audience whose knowledge and belief background is very difficult for a modern to replicate.The How commentary was critical for getting a real understanding of what Herodotus was talking about and in fact made it very entertaining. In particular, these first four books should be very enjoyable for those what want to get a feel for an intelligent Greek's world view at the time, without getting into the actual history of the Persian War, which really commences in the fifth book.

The DEFINITIVE guide to Herodotus
This supplement to Herodotus is the most comprehensive work on Herodotus' History.By commenting on the text, archaeology, geography, and virtually every aspect relating to Herodotus, one may become familiar with the first history of the classical era.I strongly reccomend the two volumes for anyone who has read Herodotus before, as he/she will gain a deeper study of the work. ... Read more

Book Description
Herodotus of Halicarnassus was an Ionian traveler and storyteller who lived in the 5th century BC. He is almost exclusively known for writing The Histories, a collection of "inquiries" about the places and peoples he encountered during his wide-rangin ... Read more

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Inspired by Penguin’s innovative Great Ideas series, our new Great Journeys series presents the most incredible tours, voyages, treks, expeditions, and travels ever written—from Isabella Bird’s exaltation in the dangers of grizzlies, rattlesnakes, and cowboys in the Rocky Mountains to Marco Polo’s mystified reports of a giant bird that eats elephants during his voyage along the coasts of India. Each beautifully packaged volume offers a way to see the world anew, to rediscover great civilizations and legends, vast deserts andunspoiled mountain ranges, unusual flora and strange new creatures, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great, useful textbook
As a Classics major, I've seen my fair share of Greek texts.I've used many different editions.This edition of Herodotus' "Histories" is every helpful.The grammar guide, the notes and the dictionary are all well put together and make the translating process go much faster.

Good selection with excellent toolbox provided
A good selection of usually quite exciting stories - many of which are pure fiction rather than anything resembling modern history. Herodotos was a truly great storyteller.He is usually introduced in the curriculum only after Basic Greek and Attic Prose (Platon, Xenophon), but if your memory is slipping, like that of yours truly sure is, you will appreciate this Selection even more, for it comes with a very helpful Commentary, which details most syntactic phenomena, and even morphology, line for line, even such matter that is already taught in the Basic and Attic Greek Courses. So you get a good rehearsal of the basics as well as learning a new dialect of Classic Greek - i.e. Ionian.
Moreover, there is an very full alphabetical Vocabulary following the Commentary part, which includes not only words peculiar to Herodotos, but again, even basic Greek words you were supposed to remember from your Basic Course!
After having studied and learned Herodotos, you are equipped with a sufficient grasp of the Ionian Dialect to proceed to The Ultimate Experience - Homeros. His "epic dialect" is mostly Ionian in character.(and you will appreciate his simpler syntax...).
A small snag: the Greek text is printed in a very small font which is peculiar to British and American works on Greek, and may therefore be somewhat tiresome for the eye. The English text is more normal-sized, but, being a reprint of a much older original, is slightly faded. I would have loved it if the text had been reset anew with modern fonts.

Highly recommended both for the good choice of entertaining stories and for the excellent toolboxes provided as help for the eager learner of Classical Greek. ... Read more

Book Description
The two great Persian invasions of Greece, in 490 and 480-79 B.C., both repulsed by the Greeks, provide our best opportunity for understanding the interplay of religion and history in ancient Greece on a large scale. Using the Histories of Herodotus as well as other historical and archaeological sources, Jon Mikalson shows how the Greeks practiced their religion at this pivotal moment in their history.

In the period of the invasions and the years immediately afterward, the Greeks--internationally, state by state, and sometimes individually--turned to their deities, using religious practices to influence, understand, and commemorate events that were threatening their very existence. Greeks prayed and sacrificed; made and fulfilled vows to the gods; consulted oracles; interpreted omens and dreams; created cults, sanctuaries, and festivals; and offered dozens of dedications to their gods and heroes--all in relation to known historical events.

By portraying the human situations and historical circumstances in which Greeks practiced their religion, Mikalson advances our knowledge of the role of religion in fifth-century Greece and reveals a religious dimension of the Persian Wars that has been heretofore overlooked. ... Read more

Book Description
This text brings new approaches to Herodotus' sources and to his methods of collecting information, to the logic of his narrative and to his understanding of human behaviour. Drawing on recent advances in the understanding or oral tradition, the author takes issue with a number of theories about Herodotus' historical thinking. Herodotus as a story teller, he argues, does not preclude Herodotus as a historian; reciprocity is central to his method; Herodotos' declared subject, the Persian Wars, is itself Herodotus' own construct, embodied in the form of continuous narrative derived from a mass of local and family traditions that reach back far into the past and encompass most of the known world. The book concludes that only a rejection of modern historiographical values that will bring us to the realisation of Herodotus' historiographical importance: we must see him as enacting in narrative the social memory of his own generation. ... Read more

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Greek text with English notes--An account of Egyptian history and custom which includes anthropology, natural history and any antiquarian information of interest to Herodotus. This scholarly edition offers a thorough introduction to both Greek historiography and Egyptology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Herodotus I trust you speak your truth...
If philosophy is a tree...Herodotus is a tap root.His work, which is more than likely quite adulterated by past scholars, is much more than a window on his times...he asked many of the questions that I would ask if I went back in a time machine. What logic is the base of our intellectual pyramid...what are the roots of our primeval fears and prejudices.He tackles belief in heroes, gods, and oracles...and he informs the modern thinker of the true wisdom of ancient humans.While it is easy to think of people of his epoch as fearful, and ignorant they were...as we are...always to certain about what our senses and our thoughts reveal.

The audio presentation is lively, and although very long...a fascinating experience.I highly recommend it.

Gare Henderson ... Read more