The Landmark Thucydides

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Thucydides referred to his account of the war between Athens and Sparta as “a possession for all time,” establishing it as a foundational work in Western historical tradition. For over 2,000 years, it has been essential reading for generals, statesmen, and educated citizens, offering profound military, moral, political, and philosophical insights. However, the text has posed challenges for modern readers due to its non-linear narrative and lack of contemporary aids such as character biographies, maps, and cultural context. Robert Strassler's new edition addresses these issues, enhancing the narrative's coherence and reconstructing the cultural backdrop familiar to Thucydides' original audience. Based on Richard Crawley's translation, this edition is updated for today's readers and features meticulously designed maps, informative appendices by classical scholars, explanatory marginal notes, and a comprehensive index. These enhancements allow readers to easily navigate the text, gaining immediate orientation regarding geography, dates, and stages of the conflict. In any list of the Great Books of Western Civilization, this work ranks highly, and this elegant new edition will ensure its significance is recognized by future generations.