Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book II (Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics) (Bk.2) (Greek Edition) [Paperback]

Thucydides (Author), Jeffrey S. Rusten (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521339294 | ISBN-13: 978-0521339292 | Publication Date: April 28, 1989

The second book of Thucydides is of particular interest because it contains important sections on the funeral oration, the account of the plague at Athens and the obituary of Pericles. His exceptionally complex structure and techniques make Thucydides one of the most difficult as well as one of the most profound of ancient historians. Professor Rusten aims to assist students at all levels in learning to read Thucydides. The text, in Greek, is supported by a valuable introduction and commentary in English. In his commentary, Rusten scrutinizes the historical, literary, and philosophical aspects. The introduction surveys biographical interpretations of the text, suggests a new approach to fictive elements in the speeches, and sketches the main features of Thucydidean style.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The volume contains an intelligent and readable introduction that treats Thucydides' life, historiographical tendencies, and stylistic idiosyncrasies; a text, printed with only a brief critical apparatus in the appendix; and a full commentary with helpful maps...The commentary is simply superb." Hunter Rr. Rawlings III, University of Iowa

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (April 28, 1989)
• Language: Greek
• ISBN-10: 0521339294
• ISBN-13: 978-0521339292
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Nonfiction > More Languages > Greek
  • #33 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Military

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice way to learn difficult Greek, February 2, 2003

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euripidesgirl (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book II (Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics) (Bk.2) (Greek Edition) (Paperback)

Thuc is generally acknowledged as being a difficult writer to read, especially for students only a few years into their studies, but this edition eases the reader into his style. Copious notes aid the reader with the more trying sentences and helpful "summaries" give an overview of important sections. I think I've read someone describing the treatment here of Perikles' Funeral Oration as a "tour de force" - and, considering Perikles' (or Thuc's?) at times bafflingly scattered sentence structure, it is certainly helpful to have someone such as this author to guide you along. I did come out of this experience with a bittersweet affection for Thuc, and it was partly due to this edition of the Greek text. J F Rusten knows his stuff and it's wonderful he's chosen to share that knowledge.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable foray into Thucydides, December 5, 2004

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Jon Torodash (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book II (Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics) (Bk.2) (Greek Edition) (Paperback)

For an author with as small a core vocabulary as Thucydides, chewing this Greek can feel pretty tough. Sentences pile on to a dizzying length, many words come heavily loaded, and he can be awfully terse in stringing together several individual and important ideas in otherwise simple narrative. Thankfully, Rusten has done a very good job with the notes. At points I was hoping for more insight, and there are numerous references to Gomme's much fuller commentary where Rusten did not deem it worthwhile to spend anymore time. But his unique treatment of the funeral oration was superb and even if one were to discount everything else in the book it would be valuable to have for this alone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars J Rusten's "Histories" 2, October 14, 2009

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D. Tremblay "DJM Tremblay" (Buffalo NY 14127 4703) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book II (Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics) (Bk.2) (Greek Edition) (Paperback)

Professor Rusten nearly equals Clyde Pharr in his presentation of Book II. The only advantage which Rusten does not provide is a vocabulary list. Commentary is helpful, if in the form of end notes, and fairly thorough. He presents a useful text for students of Attic Greek and to instructors of Thucydides. Either as an advanced [very] undergraduate Greek course or as part of an introductory graduate one, Rusten's edition is a valuable adjunct to the Loeb or the OCT in conjunction with the Crawley translation or the Landmark volume.