Marc's Reviews > History of the Peloponnesian War

History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
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bookshelves: ancient-greece

Tremendously important book, from a historical point of view. But to be honest: Thucydides brings a boring story: he just gives a sequence of facts; no dramatic depth, no psychological dimension in the speeches, emphasis on the military events.
I also was a bit disappointed by his so-called objectivity: Book 1 is slightly anti-Athenian (imperialism), book 2 light pro-Athenian (Pericles). In comparison with Herodotus for me Thucydides is a little step back, because at least Herodotus gave different opinions, Thucydides leaves no room for uncertainty, he decides on the cause-effect relationship.
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Reading Progress

Started Reading
December 16, 1986 – Finished Reading
April 3, 2013 – Shelved

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Xander Interesting comparison Marc! As a historian you know best. I'm thinking of reading Thucidydes but now I feel I will have to pick up reading Herodotus (again) as well.


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