The History of the Peloponnesian War

22 hours 6 minutes, 648 pages

English language

Published June 1, 2007 by Blackstone Audio Inc..

ISBN:
978-1-7052-3528-7
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OCLC Number:
154724094

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5 stars (1 review)

Thucydides’ classic chronicle of the war between Athens and Sparta from 431 to 404 BCE persists as one of the most brilliant histories of all time. As one who actually participated in the conflict, Thucydides recognized the effect it would have on the history of Greece above all other wars. With a passion for accuracy and a contempt for myth and romance, he compiled an exhaustively factual record of the disaster that eventually ended the Athenian empire.

Conflicts between Athens and Sparta over shipping, trade, and colonial expansion came to a head in 431 BCE, when the entire Greek world was plunged into twenty-seven years of war. This watershed event concerns not only military prowess but also perennial conflicts between might and right, imperial powers and subject peoples. Extraordinary writing, scrupulous methods, and keen political insight make this account a joy to read.

31 editions

Review of 'The History of the Peloponnesian War' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

No spoilers! You'll have to read the book yourself to find out who wins. This book taught me an enormous amount about ancient Greek warfare techniques and the depth of pride and what seems almost like sibling rivalry  which was felt among the various city-states. Absolutely fascinating. I recommend the audiobook very highly. I could never have sat through this entire book on paper! But I'm so glad to have read this. It's a classic for a reason!

I could not believe how prescient some passages were, such as early on when he describes the way men twisted words to mean different things than they used to so as to justify the leadup to war. Completely fascinating. The prose is phenomenally clear. There are only a few passages where I struggled (main shortcoming of the audio format) with understanding who was speaking or whose activities were being described when the …

Subjects

  • Unabridged Audio - History
  • History: World
  • Ancient - Greece
  • Military - Other
  • Ancient History
  • History
  • Europe - Greece
  • Audiobooks
  • Greece
  • Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C