Compelled by his desire to prevent the traces of human events from being erased by time, herotodus recounts the incidents preceding and following the persian wars. Online books about this author are available, as is a wikipedia article herodotus. The histories of herodotus is considered the founding work of history in western literature. The fact that herodotus had no prior text to help construct his own is pretty interesting. Known as the father of history, he was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent, and arrange them in a wellconstructed and vivid narrative. But do not dull thy palm with entertainment of each newhatchd, unfledgd comrade. Herodotus was a very smart and learned man for his time and it is interesting to read what he thinks. We do not know what sources herodotus had available to him as he tried to put together a depiction of croesus and his reign. Woods, for example, in his edition of the first book published in 1873 gives a list of readings for the first and second books, in which he almost invariably prefers the authority. Erato aristagoras, the author of the ionian revolt, perished in the way which i have described. Father of history, father of lies by david pipes it was in the early days of the peloponnesian war that herodotus completed his history and published it.
Joined here are the sheer drama of herodotus narrative of the persian. Robin waterfield s books robin waterfield average rating. So its fitting that, through herodotus book, the english patient reveals his own history. Delineating herodotuss appropriation of homeric language and ideology, for example, is accorded just as much importance as evaluating the historical accuracy of herodotuss narrative. He traveled along the coast of asia minor to the northern islands and to the shore of the black sea. Robin waterfield has 99 books on goodreads with 224597 ratings. Reading herodotus represents a new departure in herodotean scholarship. From book to book, the histories lets you track persias expansion, mapped by its conflicts. He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts.
While much of the information he gives has proved to be astonishingly accurate, he also entertains us with delightful. Cicero called herodotus the father of history, and his only work, the histories, is considered the first true piece of historical writing in western literature. This is a very important book groin ling the persian invasion of greece. The best stories of herodotus and why youre going to.
The histories by herodotus, first edition abebooks. With lucid prose, herodotuss account of the rise of the persian empire and its dramatic war with the greek city. Herodotus, carolyn dewald editor, robin waterfield translator published by oxford university press, usa 2008 isbn 10. Explore books by robin waterfield with our selection at. Herodotus, the histories, robin waterfield translation 2008. In a nut shell herodotus writes about the causes of the ancient. Buy the histories oxford worlds classics new edition by herodotus, carolyn dewald, robin waterfield isbn.
Often the commentaries will note that herodotus is just wrong in what he says, but sometimes hes right. There are strong indications that this is not the original division. Greek text with facing vocabulary and commentary, 2nd ed. Buy the histories oxford worlds classics penguin classic by herodotus, dewald, carolyn, waterfield, robin isbn. Bc, greek historian, called the father of history, b. Clio these are the researches of herodotus of halicarnassus, which he publishes, in the hope of thereby preserving from decay the remembrance of what men have done, and of preventing the great and wonderful actions of the greeks and the barbarians from losing their due meed of glory. Herodotus, dewald carolyn, waterfield robin published by oxford university press, usa september 15, 1998 9151998 1998 isbn 10. His invention earned him the title the father of history. Robin anthony herschel waterfield is a british classical scholar, translator, editor, and writer of childrens fiction. Readers who are interested in herodotus from either a literary critical angle or from a historical angle will therefore both find useful material in this commentary. The histories by herodotus, 9780199535668, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Being the second book of the famous history of herodotus london. Only scant knowledge of his life can be gleaned from his writings and from references to him by later writings, notably the suda.
It is written on paper and dates from some time before 1449, since an ownership inscription from that year is on f. This manuscript contains the first book of herodotus histories. The father of history, as cicero called him, and a writer possessed of remarkable narrative gifts, enormous scope, and considerable charm, herodotus has always been beloved by readers wellversed in the classics. Herodotuss histories dealt with the clash of civilisations east v west. I find myself switching between herodotus and the commentaries. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Herodotus was an ancient greek historian who lived in the fifth century bc c. He has been called the father of history, and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange. The histories by polybius, robin waterfield waterstones. The histories illustrated editioin ebook by herodotus. From the editor of the widely praised the landmark thucydides, a new landmark edition of the histories by herodotus. Herodotus the histories translation by robin waterfield. July 20 this link contains a free pdf copy of herodotus book i.
Read the histories illustrated editioin by herodotus available from rakuten kobo. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. Herodotus, also known as the father of history, lived in the. Herodotus the great greek historian was born about 484 bce, at halicarnassus in caria, asia minor, when it was subject to the persians.
Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. This new translation by robin waterfield, the first for over thirty years, includes the first five books in their entirety, and all of the fragmentary books 6 and 12, containing polybius account of the roman constitution and his outspoken views on how and how not to write history. This is not the same issue as whether herodotuss history is reliable. It was not a chronicle, nor was it a local history. Waterfields translation so far is making it fun to read. Meanwhile histiaeus, tyrant of miletus, who had been allowed by darius to leave susa, came down to sardis.
The histories oxford worlds classics 9780199535668. Herodotuss account of the persian wars of 481479bc takes six books out of nine or 300odd pages of robin waterfields excellent english translation even to. Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in, bear t that th. This superbly readable new translation is supplemented by expansive notes that provide readers the background that they need to appreciate the book in depth. It contains marginal notes in both greek and latin. Herodotus 1 greek and latin texts with facing vocabulary.
Tom hollands stirring new translation telegraph of herodotus histories, one of the great books in western history now in paperbackthe histories of herodotus, completed in the second half of the 5th century bc, is generally regarded as the first work of history and the first great masterpiece of nonfiction writing. Written in 440 bc in the ionic dialect of classical greek, the histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known in western asia, northern. Herodotus the histories translation by robin waterfield new york oxford from hist 3900 at hawaii pacific university. The histories paperback herodotus, robin waterfield, carolyn. Background and book 1 background herodotus 480after 430 bce halicarnassus where herodotus was from, very cosmopolitan place widely traveled, especially egypt lived in athens under pericles ruler of athens thurii helped found this place, an artificially created international city in southern italy. Our division of the histories in nine books goes back to an edition by scholars of the third century bce, working in the great library of alexandria. On his arrival, being asked by artaphernes, the sardian satrap, what he thought was the reason that the ionians had rebelled, he made answer that he could not conceive, and it had astonished. Buy the histories by herodotus from boffins books in perth, australia. But herodotus was the first not only to record the past but also to treat it as a philosophical problem, or research project, that could yield knowledge of human behavior. Translator tom holland argues that the father of history is not only hugely entertaining but has an amazing capacity to. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. The histories was at some point divided into the nine books that appear in modern. For an introductory discussion on the histori ography of herodotus, see herodotus, the histories trans. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue.
First book of herodotus histories the british library. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. I thought that reading herodotus would be daunting, but mr. The prose is very accessible, which makes this history very intriguing and enjoyable to read. And the commentaries at the back of the book are also well done. Herodotus dewald carolyn waterfield robin abebooks. When you take into account when this book was written its pretty darn cool. The histories by herodotus, paul cartledge waterstones. The histories translated by robin waterfield this image depicts the bookcover of herodotus the histories, edited by carolyn dewald and translated by robin waterfield. Each chapter covers a separate logos in book 5 and proposes an original thesis about the political, historical, and cultural significance of the subjects that. I started to share the best stories of herodotus not because there was a huge popular demand for it im yet to see the masses clamouring for more of anything on this blog but because i dont believe that herodotus belongs to. Page 70 the friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.