Customer Reviews

The Way of Herodotus: Travels with the Man Who Invented History

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When I studied history in graduate school we all had to read Herodotus. It was an obligation and I treated it as such; never much enjoying it but slogging through as best I could. I enjoyed the "father of history's" discussion of the Persian wars, but the travelogue Herodotus provided as an aside to his main story was a distraction for me. Had it been available then, I could have benefited from Justin Marozzi's book, "The Way of Herodotus." In this work Marozzi travels the same path that Herodotus took 2,500 years earlier. It took him to Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, and Greece to visit many of the same places that Herodotus wrote about. By far he spends the majority of the volume, more than 100 pages, discussing Greece. In every case he visits local sites, contacts a large number of people with varying perspectives on the region, the past, or Herodotus. Everywhere, Marozzi finds remnants of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures that Herodotus perceived.

From my perspective the most interesting part of the book was when Marozzi encountered Nenad Sebek, director of the Centre for Democracy and Reconciliation in South-east Europe, in Thessalonki. He describes the Centre's Joint History Project to produce history textbooks for the Balkans. That yielded a fascinating set of discoveries. The first study undertaken by the Centre, "Clio in the Balkans," found that "the rewriting of history in Yugoslavia since 1989 has seen the suppression of those themes and forces that once unified its peoples and a fresh emphasis on those that divide them. Conflicts between them in the present are presented as unchanging throughout the past so that wars and separation are inevitable, what Christina Koulouri, series editor of the new textbooks, calls the `logic of dissolution'" (p. 250). History, Marozzi asserts, provides the connective tissue that bind peoples together or the knives that cut them apart. It is an observation worthy of pondering deeply.

This is a very interesting and useful book. It offers a new perspective on Herodotus. Perhaps I misjudged his work when I was forced to read "The Histories" in graduate school.

Marozzi's 'The Way of Herodotus' is an interesting read. He follows the ancient historian's path across Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and Greece. There is interesting information scattered throughout the book, some of it coming directly out of 'The Histories.' However, the author is very repetitive -- he continually restates how culturally sensitive Herodotus was. Sure, it's true, but is restated too much. Additionally, this book carries a strong anti-American bias, highlighted particularly in the chapters about Iraq. Often times, the author draws vague connections between people he meets and Herodotus (eg, this guy is like Herodotus because he is an adventurous spirit and Herodotus would have liked this guy.) Additionally, the author continually stresses sex and his opinion that Herodotus was obsessed with sex. I think the only one obsessed is Marozzi. Overall, I enjoyed the information and stories that came directly from 'The Histories,' however Marozzi's focus is often off-track.

When I checked this book out from the local library (thank goodness I did not purchase it), I was expecting a travel book of sorts with a historical twist, which it is. The premise of the book is the author traveling to the all of the lands that Herodotus wrote about in his "Histories." It sounds interesting enough. However, as other reviewers have noted, the author seems more interested in the sexual practices Herodotus wrote about in his travels than anything else. Titillating to be sure, but not all that intriguing. A little goes a long way in the case of such information, and I wish the author had taken note of that. While some of the descriptions of the present day lands were interesting, particularly the first chapter, the book lost its way a little with the Babylon/Modern day Iraq portion. It seemed to become a critique of Bush's decision to go to war, which, albeit controversial, seemed out of place after the first chapter. I think the connections the author tried to make between modern day and Herodotus' own time were a little weak. Too much of the author writing about how understanding and multicultural Herodotus was and how Herodotus would have liked this or that. I wish there had been more a connection between his own travels and Herodotus', rather than just going to the same places. It is more travel book than history, and not a very good one at that.

Justin Marozzi attempts to follow the ancient historian Herodotus in his travels. He takes Herodotus as a travelling companion, or correctly Herodotus takes Marozzi as a travelling companion. Marozzi with typically English self-effacing humor gives a short history of his educational pursuits. This ties all of us to the man himself. One only need make his way into the book shortly to realize that once Marozzi had set his mind to a course of study he learned well. He is a wordsmith. He sent me scurrying numerous times to my dictionary in search of meanings not clear from the context. I appreciate a man who can execute his craft well and Marozzi is a admirably competent at his. The book is worth the read if for nothing else than to see words well used and well written. He is exquisite in literary form.

Marozzi gives us a short history of the Persian wars, an excellent overview to begin with. He whets our appetite for a journey back in time with Herodotus.

Marozzi engages us in the travels of Herodotus in a way that the ancient and the contemporary, the past and the present are almost brought together as one. We see how many things have changed and yet how they have stayed the same.

Our peripatetic historian begins to take shape in this book as a present day Herodotus. He writes very much in the same way as Herodotus in that he engages the local folk to help him with his excursions Every would-be traveler wants to have access to these kinds of places known only to the locals but many times do not have the ability to find them or gain access to them.

Herodotus wrote with openness to the world at his disposal. Marozzi does the same. Hereodotus recounts stories of far away places and their various unusual practices. Marozzi does the same. Witness the recounting of Herodotus' story of ants bringing up gold from the ground in India. Marozzi tells the story with corrected additions but never tells us his sources for the corrected story of the Marmot gold diggers.

For those of us Americans who are of the hawkishly conservative mindset, we squirm slightly in our seats and increase our reading pace when Marozzi begins a commentary on the Bush administrations involvement of American forces in the war in Iraq. Yes as Marozzi so willingly quotes Herodotus we all see our cultures as better.

Marozzi is a writer truly in the vein of Herodotus. He engages his subject, Herodotus' Histories, with full on engagement in the actual places Herodotus wrote about. This is truly a creative way to write about history and engage one's audience in the process. Marozzi ends by discussing Herodotus' concepts of religion. It seems he uses Alexis, a new-found friend on the island, as a foil for his own religious misgivings but just like Herodotus we may never know what he is thinking. In the vein of Herodotus he ends with the rare observance of the initiation of a new monk into the monastic life. With typical Herodotean objectification Marozzi tells the story with suspended criticism, simply viewing an aspect of culture much the way Herodotus would.

Shortcomings? Some perhaps. He may spend more time than one thinks necessary at certain junctures. But all of his travels are engaging. This is not a rehash of classical history. Outside of the recounting of the classic battles of the Persian wars, the material he presented was new information for me. Having some knowledge of classical history is helpful in order to enjoy the book. Those who may read the book may find it helpful to have some sort of Atlas and short compendium on classical history at hand along with a dictionary to get the full effect of the book. This should not be taken a as criticism necessarily . Rarely will you find books that can so challenge one to learn and entertain at the same time. I heartily recommend the book to all. It is engaging, well-written and introduces the reader to a little-known writer who has had a profound influence on historians even to this day.

The Soul Doctor

Some of the reviewers are a little hard on this book. It's true the author is no William Manchester when it comes to rigor but this is an easy to read book that wanders over quite a few interesting segments of ancient civilizations and The Histories by Herodotus.

The book is more about accessible enjoyment with a little learning thrown in and for many it may spark an interest in going on to more serious texts around the subject. Before delving into books on specific civilizations and periods this book can be enjoyed as a bit of a survey on a key part of the ancient world.

Reading the original copies of The Histories by Herodotus might be too much for the casual reader so this book is a better place to start.

It's more of a pleasant diversion into a life, a book, places and ancient times than anything else.

There is much food for thought though. The level of bickering between places like Greece and Turkey thousands of years ago amplifies a sense of futility in "sorting out" the region by any means.

Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the World

What would Herodotus have made of the start of 21st Century? We can never know for sure, but in Justin Marozzi's page-turning romp following the travels of Herodotus we get an informed and amusing point of view. He connects us to the past with a stream of elegant prose that mixes anecdotes, experience and erudition into a seamless whole. Whether it is visiting Babylon with Polish army of occupation, or exploring the astonishing sexual history of the oasis at Siwa, we are guided by the insatiable curiosity of an ancient and a modern traveller.

What an exuberant, interesting book. Nice introduction to Herodotus and a perfect way to hook a new generation. Marozzi does a fine job balancing modern and ancient, writing an historical travelogue about the father of historical travelogues. Good way to make Herodoteans of us all!

Author Justin Marozzi gives readers a fresh look at "The Father of History", Herodotus. In his historical travelogue, "The Way of Herodotus: Travel With The man Who Invented History" he captures some of the essence of a man who was so much more than just a travel reporter. The author gives us a much more insightful look at who and what Herodotus was. We learn that he was an explorer, a writer, anthropologist and one of the world's first true multi-culturalists.

The author travels in the present modern world but also takes us on a journey to past that Herodotus visited when he traveled the same routes. In some ways, the author is the modern day reflection of the man he writes about. I found the book truly held my interest - although I do not see young people investing much time to read it - and that is truly a shame.

A few years ago I was in Greece and every gift shop had little busts of Greek philosophers, thinkers, and other wisemen. I was a history major in college, so I considered purchasing a Thucydides bust. I had read Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War and learned a lot about his contributions to the study of history. But instead, I kept my eyes open for a little bust of Herodotus, the "Father of History," thinking that would be even better for my bookshelf. I had not ever read The Histories, but I had read a fair amount about them and Herodotus' role in history.

I couldn't find Herodotus' bust. This book told me two reasons why:
1. Even though I thought (and think popular perception agrees with me) that Herodotus was Greek, he was actually from present-day Turkey.
2. Many people are skeptical that Herodotus is history at all.

Justin Marozzi's engaging book creates a funny image in the reader's mind. Instead of a young guy backpacking around Europe with a copy of On The Road in his back packet, we have an older scholar trekking around Greece, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt with what appears to be several editions of The Histories in his bag. Marozzi's story provides a basic summary of The Histories as well as Herodotus' life, what little is known about it. I still can't decide if Marozzi's book has encouraged me to read Herodotus or convinced me I never have to since he has provided the high points of the book.

Marozzi does not just retrace Herodotus' steps, he tries to rehabilitate his reputation. He discusses the historical and descriptive accuracy of many of Herodotus' passages. But as other reviews have noticed, his own opinions are littered throughout the book and at times this can be distracting.

If you are a student of history and have not delved into Herodotus, I suggest this book. If you are a student of history and you love Herodotus, I suggest this book. But if you read Herodotus and were not impressed, I would stay away.

I read this book expecting some thoughtful, informed insights into history and the myriad changes that have impacted those places that Herodotus profiled. What this book is is a series of vignettes highlighting the author's indulgent travel, his own misguided "adventures", without any valuable analysis or insight into the places and people he meets. If you're interested in following one man's wanderings, without any useful travel or historical context, this might hold marginal interest. Otherwise, it's a waste of time.