A Commentary on Herodotus: With Introduction and Appendixes Volume 2 (Books V-IX) [Paperback]

W. W. How (Author), J. Wells (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 1990 | ISBN-10: 0198721390 | ISBN-13: 978-0198721390

Herodotus, referred to by Cicero and others as "the father of history," was the first to make the events of the past the subject of research and verification, and to relate their consequences to the present. In this commentary on Histories, an account of the struggle between Persia and Greece from the time of Croesus to that of Xerxes, How and Wells show that there are frequent digressions that give a wealth of information about the customs and cultures of peoples foreign to the Greeks. Providing a standard commentary of the Histories, this two-volume work will interest scholars as well as students. The authors offer short summaries introducing the subject matter of each section, a full introduction on Herodotus's life and style, and fifteen appendices that cover problems of text and content.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'the Introduction and notes ... remain, and not undeservedly so, a standard work of reference so that any cheap edition is much to be welcomed' Greece and Rome, Vol XXXVII No 1 April 1990 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

W.W. How is at Merton College, Oxford. J. Wells is at Wadham College, Oxford.

Product Details

• Paperback: 458 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 17, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198721390
• ISBN-13: 978-0198721390
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #696,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes a somewhat difficult work easy and fun, December 31, 2007

By 

bukhtan (Chicago, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Commentary on Herodotus: With Introduction and Appendices Volume I (Books I-IV) (Commentary on Herodotus, Bks. 1-4) (Paperback)

I used this commentary years ago. Without it, much of this book, the delight of which is in detail and nuance, would have remained obscure for me. the primary emphasis is on the Greek text, but there is a real wealth of historical information to be found here as well. The first four books of Herodotus, in particular, display a narrative richness deriving from what we would now call travel literature, anthopology, and legend. Herodotus was speaking to an educated and somewhat cosmopolitan audience whose knowledge and belief background is very difficult for a modern to replicate. The How commentary was critical for getting a real understanding of what Herodotus was talking about and in fact made it very entertaining. In particular, these first four books should be very enjoyable for those what want to get a feel for an intelligent Greek's world view at the time, without getting into the actual history of the Persian War, which really commences in the fifth book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable for studying Herodotus, March 19, 2010

By 

C. Bennett - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Commentary on Herodotus: With Introduction and Appendices Volume I (Books I-IV) (Commentary on Herodotus, Bks. 1-4) (Paperback)

Although nearly a century old, this work by How and Wells remains the only complete commentary on Herodotus available in English. As the books are quite expensive, be aware that a free electronic edition is available from Project Gutenberg.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The DEFINITIVE guide to Herodotus, March 25, 2001

By 

John Papapavlou (Philadelphia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Commentary on Herodotus: With Introduction and Appendices Volume I (Books I-IV) (Commentary on Herodotus, Bks. 1-4) (Paperback)

This supplement to Herodotus is the most comprehensive work on Herodotus' History. By commenting on the text, archaeology, geography, and virtually every aspect relating to Herodotus, one may become familiar with the first history of the classical era. I strongly reccomend the two volumes for anyone who has read Herodotus before, as he/she will gain a deeper study of the work.