Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between Athens and Sparta “a possssion for all time;†and indeed it is the first and still most famous work in the Western historical tradition. Considered essential reading for generals; statesmen; and liberally educated citizens for more than 2;000 years; The Peloponnesian War is a mine of military; moral; political; and philosophical wisdom.Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between Athens and Sparta “a possssion for all time;†and indeed it is the first and still most famous work in the Western historical tradition. Considered essential reading for generals; statesmen; and liberally educated citizens for more than 2;000 years; The Peloponnesian War is a mine of military; moral; political; and philosophical wisdom. However; this classic book has long presented obstacles to the uninitiated reader. Robert Strassler's new edition removes these obstacles by providing a new coherence to the narrative overall; and by effectively reconstructing the lost cultural context that Thucydides shared with his original audience. Based on the venerable Richard Crawley translation; updated and revised for modern readers. The Landmark Thucydides includes a vast array of superbly designed and presented maps; brief informative appendices by outstanding classical scholars on subjects of special relevance to the text; explanatory marginal notes on each page; an index of unprecedented subtlety; and numerous other useful features. In any list of the Great Books of Western Civilization; The Peloponnesian War stands near the top. This authoritative new edition will ensure that its greatness is appreciated by future generations.
#566653 in Books 2002-02-05 2002-02-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.50 x 1.00 x 5.20l; .67 #File Name: 0679781579368 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. First RateBy Richard; Sausalito CaliforniaThis is an exceptionally fine travel book. It is very well written and well researched. Bernstein manages to describe the lands that he traveled with descriptions of their history exceedingly well. His thoughtful comments on previous travelers/explorers in and around the Taklamakan Desert contribute to an understanding of the region as it is today. Through it all he reveals a journey into his own heart that is touching; to say the least.A very good book; more than worth the time to read it.Richard1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Bernstein's metaphysical questBy J. David WilliamsBernstein has accomplished what few other travel writers are able to achieve. Think Colin Thrubon; Peter Mathiessen; Tony Horowitz -- Bernstein's rich background not only in Chinese History but English Literature ( Joyce; TS Eliot) -- expand the narrative to touch universal issues; this talent coupled with his sensory impressions of India are consistently entertaining-- I highly reccomend this volume -- think Snow Leopard; Behind the Wall; Blue Lattitudes-- ignore the pedantic "scholarly " reviews which call to mind the jealousy of academia over Barbra Tuchman's gift for historical narrative -- a gift that shames the the tedious Thomistic penchant of academia to constantly "cough ink" when they pick up a pen!7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. TWO INCREDIBLE JOURNEYSBy M. LiuThe Ultimate Journey by Richard Bernstein was recommended to me by a friend who is a Buddhist scholar. Because of his strong recommendation; I read the book before I read the book's reviews in .com. I am fortunate to have read the book first; because reviews might have caused me to overlook an otherwise excellent book. The value of a book is determined by what transpires between the author and the reader based on a complex intellectual; cultural and personal synchrony. For me; this is the perfect book. In my opinion; a good book satisfactorily answers three questions: Is the writing literate? Am I entertained? Have I learned anything? Bernstein's book is not only literate; the writing is superb. He is a respected journalist; a book critic for the New York Times and an author of books. In my view; he and his editor have done a marvelous job in presenting a complex physical and contemplative journey that weave in and out of the present and the past; and encompass immense historical; cultural and spiritual domains. Am I entertained? Tremendously! I appreciate his subtle humor and irony;even his dissatisfaction with his life and the frustration he experienced as he travels through China and central Asia. Anyone who really knows China would appreciate his humorous treatment of the bureaucracy; the peculiar and sometimes comic mindset and behavior of the people ( as seen from the Western viewpoint); and the overcrowding; dusty; monotonus cities. As a Chinese person; I don't think he is being arrogant or condescending. He was telling the truth and he hasn't told the worst. Have I learned anything? An enormous amount! Born and raised in China; the first novel I read in 4th grade was "Journey to the West." It was about a Tang dynasty monk who went on a long journey to the "Western Heaven" in search of the sutra. The monk was accompanied by his three desciples: a monkey and a pig in human forms and Frior Sand. The pig was greedy; the monkey cunning and they have supernatural power that had protected the monk from demons and wild beasts on the way. The book was an all time classic;loved by children through the ages; but it was a mythological novel. Now in my golden years; I am thrilled to learn the truth about the Tang monk Hsuan Tsang; his incredible 16-year journey to India; the landscape; the history and the politics; then and now. I am delighted to learn about the modern-day pilgrim Richard Bernstein; his childhood; his ethnic and religious background; how he started his career; his inner thoughts and feelings. It sounds like a fairy tale that a Jewish boy from a chicken farm in Connecticut and a girl from a State farm in Helongjian undertake a joint adventure retracing the steps of a 7th century Chinese monk! Frankly I am puzzled by the criticism;obviously from younger readers;that the book was fueled by Bernstein's mid-life crisis and that he traveled by jet planes and puddle-jumped from one nice hotel to the next. True; had he undertaken the journey while in his twenties; he would have been physically more adventurous; he might have climbed the icy mountains; crossed the scorching desert on camel back just as the Tang monk had done.But then we have to wait 16 years to read his chronicle assuming he survived. Had he undertaken this journey as a young man; I am not sure he would have had nearly as much wisdom and insight as he does in his fifties. Last; but not the least; is the love story. Again I can relate to his loneliness as an unmarried person; and his ambivelence about commitment. Lukily for Bernstein; he found love in the nick of time. I hope he and Zongmei have beautiful; dark-eyed children and live happily ever after.H. Mei Liu; M.D. author of GRANDFATHER'S MICROSCOPE
