Customer Reviews

Histories (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first time that I ever studied Herodotus. Nevertheless, Donald Lateiner's excellent introduction allowed even a novice like me to gain an understanding of the marvelous world which Herodotus describes, of the historian himself and of his methods, and of the lasting influence of 'The Histories.' The translation by G.C. Macauly is very lyrical and a true joy to read (I cannot, unfortunately, compare it to other translations). Donald Lateiner provides a list of the other major translations of 'The Histories' for those who are interested. As for 'The Histories' themselves, what can I possibly say: they are the most comprehensive view of ancient Europe and the Middle East ever penned. Here are wonders to amaze the soul, forgotten realms and far away lands, tales of the common people as well as the greatest kings, and philosophies to enlighten and transcend the mind. History at its finest. Herodotus not only wrote the first prose narrative, but also one of the best!!! I wish I could give it an infinite number of stars- a mere five is simply not enough!

Indeed the gall. The gall of an academic amoeba such as I daring to review a work such as this is quite ridiculous. How could I for a moment think I could recreate in words the excitement I felt when I read this for the first time back in high school. The fact that this work took my fancy far more than the rubbish the English department was foisting onto me in terms of actual having some fluidity, emotion, action and adventure to its brew. For this work does indeed transport the reader to a different time and place entirely and while obviously much of that is down to the translator the actual original must also have been a great read. And that is very much the crux of the matter - the fact that you can read this tome on a number of levels, either you can switch your brain on `full suction' in an academic manner and really pore over the thing like an archaeological vulture or you can sit back and just enjoy reading a selection of first hand accounts, imaginative retelling of earlier tales or mere repetition of hearsay.

Inappropriate is another word that springs to mind when I think of how wrong it is that I should try to review this item when, ultimately, I am incapable of providing you with a blow by blow analysis of the historical importance of this work by the father of history. Suffice to say that it's still a standard text throughout a number of school systems and surely has provided fertile grounds for armchair historians and yes, even travel buffs, for many years given the almost fantastical episodes and details that flow from the page and one is force to wonder if the father of lies himself didn't have a sparkle in his eye as he wrote his masterwork all those centuries ago. Not to mention how it has been trawled through with a fine tooth comb by so many of the worlds historical scholars. One can only imagine how many university students have gone cross eyed while studying this gift from antiquity into the wee small hours.

Presumptuous is probably an apt word that others may use in reference to me if I were to post a review on this product given how my own feeble prose is so inadequate for the task of trying to convey the importance of this work to our understanding of not just the cut and dried aspects of the ancient Mediterranean world but also the more intangible attitudes and social mores of the time. And certainly I would have to admit to myself my presumptuous nature if I were to dare to wholeheartedly recommend this to anybody with an overarching interest in antiquity, in classical fiction such as Jason and the Argonauts and the like and indeed anybody enamoured of history. I won't recommend it however to history students. After all, you'll probably be assigned it as required reading. And if you aren't, read it during a break between semesters for your own enjoyment.

All up I trust that you, dear reader, understand why I won't review this work due to my inability to do the product justice.