Books With Flair

Chronicles two decades of war between Athens and Sparta.

Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between Athens and Sparta “a possssion for all time,” and indeed it is the first and still most famous work in the Western historical tradition. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years, The Peloponnesian War is a mine of military, moral, political, and philosophical wisdom. Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between Athens and Sparta “a possssion for all time,” and indeed it is the first and still most famous work in the Western historical tradition. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years, The Peloponnesian War is a mine of military, moral, political, and philosophical wisdom. However, this classic book has long presented obstacles to the uninitiated reader. Robert Strassler's new edition removes these obstacles by providing a new coherence to the narrative overall, and by effectively reconstructing the lost cultural context that Thucydides shared with his original audience. Based on the venerable Richard Crawley translation, updated and revised for modern readers. The Landmark Thucydides includes a vast array of superbly designed and presented maps, brief informative appendices by outstanding classical scholars on subjects of special relevance to the text, explanatory marginal notes on each page, an index of unprecedented subtlety, and numerous other useful features. In any list of the Great Books of Western Civilization, The Peloponnesian War stands near the top. This authoritative new edition will ensure that its greatness is appreciated by future generations.

"This new translation of the ancient classic, which is one of the greatest true-life adventure stories ever recorded, a fascinating tale of fraught and dangerous journey. The narrative tells of ten thousand Greek soldiers stranded deep in hostile Persia, their commander dead. Xenophon was appointed as one of their leaders, and he chronicled the harrowing journey as he led the marching republic north to the Black Sea. Supplements the text with detailed maps and annotations that place the work in historical context."--

Narrates events surrounding the political alliances between Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Persia in the years 411 to 362 B.C.E., in a text that includes excerpts from Diordorus Siculus and the Oxyrhynchus historian.

From the councils of the Athenian generals to the staff room of the German high command to meetings in the Kennedy White House, Donald Kagan shows the world's great leaders making the critical decisions of peace and war.

During twelve years of continuous campaigns, Alexander conquered an empire that stretched from the shores of the Adriatic to the edge of modern India. Arrian's history of those conquests is the most reliable and detailed account to emerge from the ancient world. --from publisher description

An annotated and illustrated Thucydides reader containing passages from books I-VIII of the Histories with introductory material for all eight books of the Histories, commentary and grammatical notes. This book is a standard text for any college course in reading Thucydides in Greek. It is also suitable for post-intermediate, secondary school students who want to tackle the works of a popular but challenging author.

Presents an English translation of the Greek text which provides an account of the people and events involved in the long, fifth-century conflict between Athens and Sparta, and includes notes, a glossary, and other resources.

A Yale professor's reassessment of the life and contributions of the ancient revisionist historian places him in a context of his time, citing the pivotal influence of his refusal to credit the gods or individuals with the societal events documented in The Peloponnesian War.

"The Landmark Julius Caesar is the definitive edition of the complete works of Julius Caesar, offering an unprecedented view into the life and career of one of the greatest statesmen and military commanders in the ancient world. Between 58 and 50 B.C., Caesar led his army to twice invade Britain and conquer most of the land that is now France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The Gallic War, Caesar's firsthand account of his campaigns, offers a record of his travels and insights into military strategy. It also served another purpose: to present the Roman public with a portrait of Caesar as a compelling, effective leader, which would be a key part of his public image as he fought off his rivals for control of the empire. The Civil War is Caesar's subsequent chronicle of his struggle to rule, from his crossing of the Rubicon in 49 B.C. through the death of his chief rival, Pompey, and the ongoing efforts of Pompey's heirs and followers to remove Caesar from power. Accompanying Caesar's commentaries are three essential additional works, The Alexandrian War, The African War, and The Spanish War, which together provide a comprehensive picture of the far-reaching military conquests that would concentrate unparalleled power and influence in the hands of the Roman dictator. With elegant new translations by Kurt A. Raaflaub, this volume includes detailed annotations, appendices, color maps, and illustrations to place the narratives in their historical and political context. Lively, accessible, and assembled with rigorous scholarship, The Landmark Julius Caesar is an indispensable resource for history buffs and fans of the classics"--