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What are readers saying about The Histories (Penguin Classics)?
| Reviews of The Histories (Penguin Classics) - Page 1 of 3 |
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-03 04:12:50.
(Language: English)
 
i don't know...i hated this book. but maybe it's because i had to read it when i was in seventh grade. so glad to be out of classical school... 
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-25 06:44:26.
(Language: English)
On my top five if not my number 1. I re-read every few years.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-21 07:36:14.
(Language: English)
Very very heavy . . .
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Buz posted a review at 2009-12-03 03:31:27.
(Language: English)
Absolutely fascinating. Surprisingly amusing too.Knocking off half a star for all the times he refuses to describe things due to his own scruples or estimation of the info's value ;)
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Paul posted a review at 2010-05-31 10:57:29.
(Language: English)
A comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable edition of Herodotus' masterpiece. This volume is loaded with maps, illustrative photos, extensive footnotes, and twenty-one appendices. Well worth the time to read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-08 11:58:03.
(Language: English)
The beginning of historiography of Europe. An amazing read. Herodotus is the most curious of historians - the word "curious" appears in many places. All about the Persian Expeditions to Greece. Very memorable for history lovers and all...curious people.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-11-28 05:12:29.
(Language: English)
Incredibly entertaining tourist guide for the Greeks, plus history of the Persian Wars. The most entertaining Ancient Greek Literature you'll ever read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-03-20 02:03:34.
(Language: English)
The father of history. Need I say more?
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-02 07:57:58.
(Language: English)
It may even be that this book makes Herodotus seem less monumental than he appears in other editions, as mystery is stripped away from the book’s exotic allusions and geography. Maps — 127 of them — outline Herodotus’ world; even the text is clearly mapped out, with wide margins offering summaries of each paragraph and identifying the time period.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-14 05:05:18.
(Language: English)
interesting but not as good as i remember it from 20 years ago. still in the first half, though.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-03-13 08:20:38.
(Language: English)
interesting. proof that mankind is still the same scheming dreaming group it was thousands of years ago. some very funny parts as well. a landmark in history indeed.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-19 02:22:50.
(Language: English)
A fascinating look at the ancient greek world view
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-27 10:28:47.
(Language: English)
A worthwhile read - whatever the time! What I love best about this is his more or less unbiased narration of events - he may express how he feels about things, but fact isn't tainted by opinion. One can hardly say that about most narrations of (contemporary) events.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-13 08:27:26.
(Language: English)
"Many of Herodotus' readers can sense that whatever his shortcomings as a historian (in the modern sense of the word), he is a story-teller of the first rank." (from the Introduction by John Marincola, p. xv).
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-27 11:58:41.
(Language: English)
Fascinating book. Not quite history but not mythology or folk tales. Herodotus can one moment be explaining why Homer was aware of the Egyptian account of Helen's capture by Paris and the very next he can explain the importance of a prophetic dream Croesus had, which foretold his son's death. The contrast between the rationalizing (you might even say sophistic ;p) and irrational sides of Herodotus' thought is constantly illuminated. Of course, one can't forget the ostensible point of the book: the causes, events, and outcome of the war between the Greeks and the Persians, which culminated in the Persians' defeat at Plataea. But Herodotus uses this and the other stories he tells as a way to show the mutability of human fortune and the results this has for those who are blinded by their own hubris. It is, I suppose, a tragic interpretation of history, probably best summed by Solon when he tells Croesus, "call no man happy until he dies, rather, fortunate". But that's getting all deep and boring so I'll cut it out and give you the gist of it. Lots of exciting stuff happens like murder, intrigue, wars, sex, and yes, for those of you who've seen or read 300, you get to hear about Thermopylae. But no, I'm afraid Leonidas never tells a Persian envoy "This is SPAAAAAARTAAAAAAAAAA!" before he kicks him into a pit xD So read and enjoy Herodotus, the Father of History.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-25 07:43:31.
(Language: English)
The father of history.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-01 03:32:28.
(Language: English)
Herodotus is amazing and compassionate and wonderful.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-12-15 12:23:09.
(Language: English)
This is obviously a classic so i'm not sure how you are suppose to write a review for a book like this. For those who know absolutely nothing about Herodotus and his histories, I would say that it is nothing like a modern historical text book. Its more like stories that he has heard and accumulated into a book. Clearly, if you are at all interested in learning about the ancient world you have to read this book. One of my favorite parts of the histories was when Herodotus was in Egypt and struck up a conversation with the Egyptian priests and asked them about the pyramids and about their history and they gave him a story that completely contradicts the archaeological record that we have since uncovered. I am always amazed by how ignorant we all are to the events of the past and the image of Egyptian high priests walking around the great pyramids at Giza and thinking that they knew when and how they came into existence when in reality they had no clue is a real testament to the highly flawed nature of societal memory. I wonder how long it will take for these years that we live today to be erased from our collective memories.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-11 06:54:20.
(Language: English)
It's a history book. What's to rate?
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-12 05:41:37.
(Language: English)
Fifth Century B.C. and a fascinating read! Herodotus is opening a window for me into ancient history. I am amazed by the detail he weaves into the stories of kings, cultures, religions, politics, art, architecture, food and clothing of people who lived so long ago. I highly recommend this book. So far, it's my favorite book in 2009.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-06-25 12:30:12.
(Language: English)
THe...GREATEST...BOOK...EVER. Like poking your head through a window into the (very) strange world of 400 B.C., and taking a good long look around. Not only does this OG historian capture many of the *facts* of ancient Greek and Egyptian history upon which modern scholarship is based, he lets you into the paradigms of the distant past and experience what it was like to be human when the Ocean was the World Sea, when the Indus River was the farthest reach of Western knowledge, and when giant ant-headed men who spat gold didn't seem too far out of reach. Truly, one of the most precious books of humanity, and woefully underread by the modern age.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-12-28 11:11:55.
(Language: English)
Herodotus is often referred to as the father of history...as well as the father of lies. His contribution to written history is unforgettable, even if he did just write down the first account given and did not question his sources (which people are STILL guilty of today). I personally found this book fascinating and a fun read and entertaining read that gives us a glimpse into the ancient Mediterranean world.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-04 06:17:19.
(Language: English)
In "Herodotus: On The War For Greek Freedom", Samuel Shirley does a marvelous job translating and selecting the relevant portions from the famous nine-volume, "Histories." However, this review is not about Shirley, it is about Herodotus. For those of you who may not be familiar with Herodotus, he was a fifth-century historian who wrote about the Greco-Persian War. Often referred as the father of history, Herodotus’ writing has been met with criticism, praise, and controversy throughout all of antiquity and modernity. The pros and cons to Herodotus’ story is one in the same: mythology. Although Herodotus claims his work is historical, many historians are turned-off by his implementation of the supernatural. Many scholars believe Herodotus did this to amplify the entertainment value of his books in order to get his work read. But by doing so, he sacrificed accuracy, thus fracturing the historic part of his writing. Nonetheless "Histories" is still the best [and only] story on the Greco-Persian War. I believe Herodotus’ style of writing will appeal to readers of all levels. Compared to most ancient literature, Herodotus’ writing is very straightforward and concise. "Herodotus: On The War for Greek Freedom" is a wonderful read, for it provide its readers with historic knowledge, as well as entertainment.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-27 01:52:52.
(Language: English)
crazy
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-11-25 11:41:50.
(Language: English)
Masterpiece of the antiquity, although it is written in a original way. The author was an observer, traveler, gossip, explorer and the historian. Traces of these all professions can be easily found in his good book.
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| Reviews of The Histories (Penguin Classics) - Page 1 of 3 |
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