Genealogy Books - The Histories (Penguin Classics)

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Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:

Summary: not for me
Comment: This is a long, rambling, unfocused book. I guess the other reviewers are interested in everything
covered here, but I wasn't. I tried this book after reading Thucydides. Thucydides has focus.
Herodotus does not. Herodotus seems like the ancient equivalent of soap operas. I couldn't get
through it.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Extremely readable
Comment: I picked a copy of the Histories mostly because i had just seen 300 and wanted to learn a bit more
about the larger war. now, even though i'm quite interested in history, i was pretty apprehensive
about reading a book like this one--besides the obvious length, it's dense, with many names and
locations i've never seen before and that are rather obscure. however, i was very surprised by just
how readable this translation is. you can tell that Selincourt spent a good deal of time making
sure that the translation wasn't a direct, word for word port of the original text. the text,
though still distinctly scholarly, is written in a manner not unlike any other mondern history book.
beyond that, the account itself is very interesting to anyone with an interest in ancient history.
this translation is highly recommended.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Great Book
Comment: This book really brings together all the essential knowledge on the subject. I have a class history
book that takes excerts from books of Plutarch, Thucydides and Herodotus and i have go to say that
going straight to the source made a big difference in class discussions. A definite must read for
you history buffs out there.

Customer Rating:

Summary: The Histories Revealed
Comment: This history brings the ancient times to life in our modern age.

Customer Rating:

Summary: What can be added?
Comment: What more could be said above "father of history?" I will therefore limit my comment to this
particular volume, the Penquin Classic. The writing is flowing and clear, and though I am not a
greek scholar, it seems to convey the "feel" of what one would imagine from Herodotus. The notes
at the end along with the additional material such as the structural and chronological outlines are
very helpful in keeping track of the dates and the people in context. The only addition I would
make is a few more detailed maps which would help with geographical context of the events and
places. What I like about this and other Penguin Classics though is that the maps are consolidated
into one place where they can easily be referred to throughout the reading. The maps do at least
include the general maps of the Greek and Persian empires. All in all, a wonderful and afordable
volume that will server as a great resource for enjoyment reading, research, and reference.

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