Product Description
From the editor of the widely praised The Landmark Thucydides and The Landmark Herodotus, here is a new edition of Xenophon’s Hellenika, the primary source for the events of the final seven years and aftermath of the Peloponnesian War.

Hellenika covers the years between 411 and 362 B.C.E., a particularly dramatic period during which the alliances among Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Persia were in constant flux. Together with the volumes of Herodotus and Thucydides, it completes an ancient narrative of the military and political history of classical Greece.

Xenophon was an Athenian who participated in the expedition of Cyrus the Younger against Cyrus’ brother, the Perisan King Artaxerces II. Later Xenophon joined the Spartan army and hence was exiled from Athens. In addition to the Hellenika, a number of his essays have survived, including one on his memories of his teacher, Socrates.

Beautifully illustrated, heavily annotated, and filled with detailed, clear maps, this edition gives us a new, authoritative, and completely accessible translation by John Marincola, an comprehensive introduction by David Thomas, sixteen appendices written by leading classics scholars, and an extensive timeline/chronology to clarify this otherwise confusing period.Unlike any other edition of the Hellenika, it also includes the relevant texts of Diodorus Siculus and the Oxyrhynchus Historian, with explanatory footnotes and a table that correlates passages of the three works, which is perhaps crucial to an assessment of Xenophon’s reliability and quality as a historian.

Like the two Landmark editions that precede it, The Landmark Xenophon’s Hellenika is the most readable and comprehensive edition available of an essential history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Another Excellent Entry in the Landmark Series
Hellenica by Xenophon picks up where the History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides left off in 411 BC and takes the reader all the way to 362 BC. Xenophon tells us the story of the triumph of Sparta over Athens in the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. Victory for Sparta is bittersweet, due to various commitments in the Aegean that cause it to become overstretched. Athens is able to recover and the previously unremarkable city-state of Thebes challenges Spartan power. The last part of the narrative focuses on the wars between Thebes and Sparta.

With dozens of maps, appendices and explanations of difficult parts of the text, it is surprisingly difficult to get lost in this text. The translation of Xenophon's text by John Marincola is highly readable as well. This product deserves a full 5 star rating.

A very good Hellenica
Too long neglected by modern translators, it's good to have this Hellenica.

Arian's Alexander is now being published. I hope that they do Polybius as well.

a five starred slog
Strassler's Xenophon has something to offer the beginner as well as more advanced reader.A very nice 50-page introduction places the text into historical and literary context.Maps every few pages indicate the location of every city or region mentioned in the text.Additionally, frequent footnotes at the bottom of each page (not inconveniently at the end of the text) provide important additional background information.Even better, 15 essays by various authors at the end of the text (each approximately two to six pages long) cover relevant topics: multiple short biographies, the Athenian government during the period of the Hellenica, as well as short essays on Persia and Sparta.

Despite everything bad written regarding the quality of Xenophon's text, it is still the most important primary source covering this period.We are frequently reminded of multiple omissions and inconsistencies.Strassler studiously compares the Hellenica with another existent text covering the same period by Diodorus Siculus and other sources to prove this point, but the Hellenica is still extremely impressive because it is a contemporaneous account written by a man who not only had high-level access to information but also played a large role himself.

For the more advanced reader, the referenced sections of Diodorus' text are provided at the end of the book.Some sections of Diodorus give more information on the topic at hand.Other sections give diverging information.Sometime Strassler sides with Xenophon's account.Other times, not.Additionally, sections of a fragmentary, more recently discovered third text on this period called the Oxyrhynicha papyrus fragments are also included at the end of the text and referenced from within the main text.

The text itself is plodding in some sections, though in others it moves along.Conveniently, every several paragraphs there is a 2 or 3 sentence summary in the outer margin of each page, making it easy to catch up on your train of thought each time you pick up the book again. The small summaries also make it easy to make sure you understand each paragraph or haven't missed something important in a difficult to understand section.Further, the summaries provide an easy way to skim through or easily reference the text.

Not being a scholar or expert in the material, it was more difficult for me personally to be dismayed by inaccuracies and omissions.There is no need to get hung up on this point because Strassler does a good job pointing them out and filling in the holes. There is still a lot to glean from the text, especially how the different city-states of ancient Greece were run, the complex politics, and the extreme amount of infighting that occurred among the Greeks after the Peloponnesian War.

You gain a much greater understanding that the Greek world went well beyond Athens and Sparta and Corinth and Thebes. The ancient Greek world comprised of many, many established city-states that don't get much recognition today that held sway back then.The sections on the fighting in the Ionic city-states and the involvement of Persia was also interesting.

Lastly, the translation is new and very readable.No antiquated text or other worries in this respect.

PSNext up for the Landmark series is Arrian and then Polybius.

History at its rawest and best
Im quite partial to Xenophon, with "Anabasis" being my all time favorite piece of literature. "Hellenika" is a fascinating tome of ancient wisdom, military tactics, political strife, epic battles, true heroes, and dire villans, and its all non-fiction. I prefer Xenophon's stoical tone over his contemporary, Thucydides, although I would encourage anyone interested in Greek History to read both. The maps and images throughout this edition are wonderful guides, and a newcomer will find him or herself quickly familiarized with all of the locations, topographies, geography, and political hubs of the 5th and 4th centuries BC/BCE.

Stunning
If you've struggled with Greek ancient history, this may be your salvation.I'm a neophyte in this area, since I've been discouraged so consistently before (even with Kagan's histories.)But this edition "makes it all possible."The maps are fantastic--meticulously referenced, and redundantly so, to avoid this exasperating process of thumbing back and forward to try to find where it was you saw that geographical name elsewhere.And the Appendices--yes, the APPENDICES--are absorbing, with biographical supplements, a fascinating discussion of Greek triremes, etc., etc.Dr. Strassler has got it just right.Imagine--reading 4th C BC Greek history just for fun! ... Read more

Product Description
In "The Persian Expedition", Xenophon, a young Athenian noble who sought his destiny abroad, provides an enthralling eyewitness account of the attempt by a Greek mercenary army - the Ten Thousand - to help Prince Cyrus overthrow his brother and take the Persian throne. When the Greeks were then betrayed by their Persian employers, they were forced to march home through hundreds of miles of difficult terrain - adrift in a hostile country and under constant attack from the unforgiving Persians and warlike tribes. In this outstanding description of endurance and individual bravery, Xenophon, one of those chosen to lead the retreating army, provides a vivid narrative of the campaign and its aftermath, and his account remains one of the best pictures we have of Greeks confronting a 'barbarian' world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

A Great Story-Terrible Narrator
It was a great pleasure to discover this 2,400 year old story of a Greek Army's fighting retreat from Mesopotamia.Xenophon was a talented writer and his descriptions of war and men under stress are timeless.Unfortunately, Blackstone Audio's Pat Bottino was not up to the task of narrating this compelling story.His monotone voice reminded me of the educational film strips I listed to as a child in the early 1970's.In this case, this is a better book to read rather than listen to.Finally, if you start this book and find yourself really enjoying it, I would recommend that you also start reading Robin Waterfield's excellent companion work, "Xenophon's Retreat".Narrator aside, this book is highly recommended.

Good introduction, could have had more extensive footnotes, translation easy to read
I guess I enjoyed reading Xenophon's "The Persian Expedition" or "Anabasis".The book and Xenophon has been denigrated through the millennia for not being truthful or rigorous, but the book, nevertheless is interesting to read through to get a first hand account of mercenary life in 400 BC as well as a hint of life in Persian lands.On the other hand, the book has been read throughout the ages by school children and those learning Greek.

The translation is very easy to read and the lengthy introduction spells out the shortcomings of the book: there are several other accounts of the Ten Thousand that do not offer the same account of events as Xenophon's.

Regardless, if you are interested in antiquity, primary source material is limited, making books like this worth while.I'd also consider Robin Waterfield's translation which has much more extensive footnotes

Review of the Penguin Classics 'Anabasis'
I must admit that my coloring of this book may be a bit overly rosy, for as I began it I had only just recently finished reading Thucydides--my appetite for exciting Greek history was very malnourished.

I found Rex Warner's translation very compelling. The text was easily readable, and difficult features were expained in footnotes(!). There is some scholarly excess in the footnotes--Warner enjoys pointing to evidence against the theory that Xenophon kept a diary during the expedition, from which he later wrote the Anabasis.

I'm not sure whether it was Xenophon or Warner that divided the work into a series of small, episodal chapters, but I found this format much more approachable. Each little piece presents some new and intriguing feature of Xenophon's story. It was, in many ways, a return to the story-world of Herodotus, which, even if less than historically honest, the reader cannot help but find compelling.

Excellent, But Not the Best
Xenophon's compelling narrative should be required reading for history buffs, and this (Rex Warner) translation of that story is good, but, for the general reader, I don't think it's the best. The dearth of explanatory footnotes is a real shortcoming for the non-expert.
I think that the 2005 Robin Waterfield translation (titled "The Expedition of Cyrus") in the Oxford World's Classics paperback series, with a helpful chronology and large set of explanatory endnotes, is a better choice for most people. I also believe that Waterfield's literary style is more engaging than Warner's, but -- probably -- not everyone will agree.

An exciting masterpiece
While The Persian Expedition is not Xenophon's original title, it perfectly captures the balance of military grit and exotic adventure that flavor the story. Xenophon's work is unusual in ancient history in that it covers a relatively small event in great detail over a short time, rather than the sweeping narratives of Herodotus, Thucydides, or Livy. Both styles have their merits--an exciting story is the greatest merit of The Persian Expedition.

Beginning only a few years after the end of the cataclysmic Peloponnesian War, Xenophon tells the story of how he joined a Greek mercenary army of 10,000 men in a bid to help Cyrus, younger brother of the King of Persia, overthrow his brother Artaxerxes. Setting the reader up for an epic struggle between the King and his upstart brother, the story dramatically shifts direction when Cyrus is killed in battle and the Greeks find themselves stranded leaderless hundreds of miles deep in hostile territory, trapped between a river and the entire Persian army.

It's at this point that young Xenophon--narrating in third-person, like Caesar--comes to the fore. After an inspiring prophetic dream, he rallies the despondent soldiers and, with a cadre of newly-elected generals to replace those kidnapped and executed by the Persians, leads the army northward. Over the new months they pass through high mountain passes guarded by hostile barbarians, barter for supplies when their food runs out, trek through six-foot drifts of snow, and generally hack and stab their way to saftey by the Black Sea.

That's the substance of the story. After reaching the sea, the Greeks turn on each other, split the army, regroup after losing hundreds of men in an ambush, and make their way slowly home along the shores of Paphlagonia (in modern Turkey) and Thrace (modern Greece and Romania). After trying to leave the bickering army several times, Xenophon returns home and the story ends.

The Persian Expedition offers not only action but unusually well-drawn characters. Xenophon takes time, sometimes postmortem, to describe the looks and characters of the main figures in his story, from the ill-fated mercenary generals to duplicitous priests and Cyrus himself. Socrates even makes a brief but memorable appearance, reminding the reader of Xenophon's place as a pupil of the philosopher.

This translation by Rex Warner is fast-paced and readable. He simplifies the measures of distance used in the original Greek from parasangs--a Persian measure of time traveled rather than distance--to miles, which is very helpful. George Cawkwell's introduction is informative and his notes are mercifully less intrusive than those in Xenophon's A History of My Times, which he also edited.

Overall, The Persian Expedition is not only an historically significant work, it's an exciting literary masterpiece better than many modern novels. If you're interested in Greek or military history or simply need a diverting read, check this book out.

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Widely considered the most famous work of the professional soldier and writer Xenophon, "Anabasis" is a true tale of dangerous adventure in ancient Greece. Though advised not to join the army of 10,000 by his friend Socrates, Xenophon does set out with Cyrus the Great in that man's attempt to gain the empire of Persia from his brother. When this leader is killed in battle, however, the army loses cause and direction, and the result is a 'marching republic' in which the remainder of the army must fight their way home. Through endless miles of hostile territory where their foes crop up at every turn, Xenophon emerges as one of the few men capable of making decisions and leading the army through a variety of difficulties in a perilous retreat back to Greece. When at last they reach the sea and know they near their homeland, their cries of fierce joy resound and become the stuff of legend. Told in forthright and unpretentious prose, this epic journey of extraordinary endurance over hardship remains an entertaining account that exemplifies Socratic philosophy, clear Greek writing, and the bygone valor of remarkable warriors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Greatest book youll ever read!
Im far too biased to make a solid review, but this is afterall my all time favorite piece of literature. Xenophon's "Anabasis" is the ultimate story, and its completely non fiction. This, in my opinion, is one of the most valient stories ever told, and truly marks the fullest capacities of the human being when strict discipline, steadfast honor, and unwavering bravery are instilled into the culture of the times. The characters (who are all real people) involved set a precedence that few, if any, in modern times could ever hope to stand against. The villians play their role as all dramatic works of literature would portray their "bad guys," and the heroes, especially the unexpected underdogs, play their roles as all respectable victors should. The reader must keep in mind that the author is a military chronicler, not a literary entertainer, so the piece reads much like a step-by-step account, rather than an entertaining story (not to say that this isnt entertaining!). It has quite a stoical tone, merely recalling the tribulations the soldiers endured. The events recalled, however, are sure to widen the eyes of any reader.

Some of the mightiest human feats are accomplished in this tome, and amazingly, the larger portion of this renegade army of mercenaries makes it back home, to begin fighting once more in the Peloponnesian wars. The cultures they encounter, the obstacles they overcome, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers they defeat, all while starving, freezing, burning under the sun, dying of thirst, and longing for home, lead one to imagine the quality of this class of soldier in the classical world. "Anabasis" survives to us this day as a testament to human endurance.

Rare historically based information
I am glad that I ordered this book, because it was written by a historian, who lived in those ancient times. Also I like that this book has a parallel Greek translation, so a reader who reads English could see the original information and even learn the Greek language. The book is very interesting and easy to read.

Anabaisis: Great lessons in life and military history
I read Xenophon's Anabasis to give me some insight to how Alexander the III of Macedon was thinking in terms of logistics and geography when he was conquering Persia.Historians of antiquity have said that Alexander had read and carried Anabasis on his campaign against Darius and that he possibly used information from the book to avoid making the same mistakes Cyrus the Young made at the battle of Cunaxa. Regardless, the book stands on its own and will open up a whole new course of study for those interested in ancient Greek military history.On the less academic side, the book entails a great story of a struggle of a brotherhood of men against a Persian Army, mother nature, their own hubris, and against the very Greek gods themselves. I agree with another reviewer when he/she said that Anabasis would make a great movie.It would. "March of the Ten Thousand,".....I can see it now....

An Ancient Quest
This exciting battle story also is a meditation on leadership as the Greeks first attack and then retreat from the Persians across Tigris and Euphrates geography all too familiar at the present time.

The Real Deal!
I confess that I have heard of this classic for years and never made an attempt to read it until recently. It is a classic because it has stood the test of time. It is an outstanding account of the Greek Mercinaries who fought with Cyris in the 5th century BC. Although it reads much differently than a novel it is much more fascinating when you know that the words are written by the man who really participated in this epic adventure and survived to tell his story. I highly reccomend it to anyone who is interested in classsical warfare of just likes a good adventure story of men enduring extremehardship and winning the battle in the end. You will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great for the mind
Great for thinking time.Shows that nothing changes in life.Thoughts are the same. ... Read more

Product Description

In Memorabilia or Memoirs of Socrates and in Oeconomicus, a dialogue about household management, we see the philosopher through Xenophon's eyes. Here, and in the accompanying Symposium we also obtain insight on life in Athens. The volume concludes with Xenophon's Apology, an interesting complement to Plato's account of Socrates' defense at his trial. Ostensibly an account of a dinner party in the summer of 421 BCE, Xenophon's Symposium is a vibrant picture of an Athenian evening of quiet entertainment and conversation. Among the guests Socrates is the central figure, and—as in Plato's Symposium—love is the main subject of debate. But the style here is more relaxed and less artful than in Plato's philosophical dialogue, yielding an engaging portrait of Socrates and of Athenian social life.

Product Description
Xenophon was an ancient Greek soldier who lived from around 430-354 BC. His "Art of Horsemanship" is his work on selecting and educating horses. It was not the first work of its kind, an earlier being that by Simon of Athens. This book also includes excerpts by Aristotle, Columella, Diogenes Laertius, Herodotos, Juvenal, Livy, Pliny the Elder, Simon of Athens, Suetonius, Theomnestus, Virgil, (and two of Xenophon's other works mentioning horsemanship,) which are relevant to Xenophon's The Art of Horsemanship. This is a NEW English translation by Dr A. Nyland. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

something for all who have or love horses today
This was a pleasant surprise for me, I was looking forward to this book because I love greece, horses, military history, greek mythology and philosophy but I never thought I would find useful advice on horses for me. I mean how could Xenophon who lived in 430bc relate to me and my horses today?

If you love horses, if you are buying a horse and if you want to get the most from your horse without a fight... if a willing horse is your goal then you'll want to read this.

Certainly this book has brought me back to the wonder of greece.. to Socrates and Athens, it makes me want to go back again to see Xenophons Greece.

A horseman would be better to read Dr. Nylands review vs. reading most of the horsemanship books today... its an easy read and it all applies to your horses today. Xenophon and Dr. Nyland have me listening to my barefooted horses foot falls to hear the sound of a good foundation and a good foot.

I had to chuckle over the fact that so many people have come to our adoption program to adopt a horse and wanted 'a certain color'... oh boy, they really need to read the section on selecting a horse and how many people have I seen try to force a horse to do what they want. Xenophon knew how to bring out the best in a horse and it wasn't by force. We have so much to learn today. Dr. Nyland's Xenophon is a great place to start for any horseman.

Xenophon's Ancient Advice for Modern Horsemanship
This is the best available translation of Xenophon's Art of Horsemanship, and in addition includes advice from several other ancient writers.It underlines the fact that the ancients had a much closer relationship with horses than most moderns, and therefore a more intuitive understanding of these noble animals.Thank you Dr Nyland.

Excellent read!!
Ann Nyland has a wonderful way of writing that brings the original texts into a more modern day relevance.
She provides fascinating extra 'tid-bits' that intrigue and flesh out the work of Xenophon.
I have read the old translation and although the info is great found that it was quite boring in presentation.
No such issue with Ann's book!
The relevance of Xenophon's teachings to todays current horse keeping methods is very clearly explained.
Highly recommend this book to all who have an interest in the history of the horse and the ways of the ancient horsemen.

Fascinating read
I thoroughly recommend Dr Ann Nyland's book, it is a fascinating read.I really like how Dr Nyland has put the book together, I had trouble putting the book down.

This is NOT one of the old public domain Xenophons!
Ok, I bought two different books of Xenophon's Art of Horsemanship for a horsey friend's birthday. Well, I thought they were two different books! I looked inside and thought, "Hang on, these look the same," so read more, and then found out they were both public domain books by a Morris H. Morgan in 1893. The translation was identical. Now I have nothing against public domain books, but I wish I had known the two books were the same inside!
So then I looked back through the available books on Xenophon's Art of Horsemanship, and came across this one. I was pleased to see it is a 2010 translation by a Classical Greek language scholar who is also a horse book author, and uses modern language like we use today not 1800s English. It is very easy to read. I then shipped this one off to my horsey friend along with one of the other ones.
What could be better? A 2010 translation of Xenophon's Art of Horsemanship by an ancient Greek language scholar who is also a well known horse care book author! ... Read more

Product Description
"The Art of Horsemanship" by Xenophon is the first ever book of its kind on selecting, training and riding horses. Eloquently written by an articulate ancient Greek horseman, "The Art of Horsemanship" is a quick read but entertaining and enlightening. This English translation is very fluid and easy to understand. Xenophon covers all the basics of horse husbandry that are still followed 2500 years later. If you are thinking of owning or training a horse, "The Art of Horsemanship" is a good place to start.For those of us who have the twin passions of horses and history, this book is fascinating to read. Xenophon speaks like trainers today who are "training gentle". There are differences of course because his main thrust is a trustworthy mount for a cavalry that did not use saddles. His affection for the animals is apparent from the opening page. This book would be of interest to anyone who is in love with horses, or would like a fuller understanding of the ancient use of cavalry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

The Wisdom of Ages
This is an obvious foundation classic which I believe is necessity for the rounded horseman/woman. It is interesting to compare and contrast to modern advancements in equine physical/psychological science as well as the evolution of horses' roles in culture.

And....
There is actually some controversy about this book.There are still some who maintain this book was not produced in 'ancient times' at all!In fact some will maintain that nearly ALL of our 'most cherished' classical works are not 'ancient' at all...but I digress.Most translations do not include all of the book and give an unnecessarily rosy depiction of horsemanship at the time.I'm not sure it really is the beginnings or foundations of dressage at all, though that is what is repeated over and over these days.I was told quite firmly years ago that Xenophon invented the Levade, which is actually a relatively modern invention and may not go back much more than a hundred years.But there are other very interesting books on horses as well - such as the one published about 1250 that includes instructions in how to create a five gaited horse (walk-trot-canter-stepping pace-rack, a la American Saddlebred).Even so, despite every effort, it isn't really all that clear that the riding in 1250 or Xenophon's time really looks like what we imagine or is that similar to what we do - or would be able to stomach!Even so, an interesting ready and something any student of riding can enjoy.

Another oldie but goodie
Another very old book that seems to still ring true. His methods do seem to apply mostly to horses of war, yet, a great overall view of training. Especially for the great price and Xenophone being referred to, still, by so many highly regarded trainers. In my opinion, it is worth the time and effort.

Everyone that has a horse or rides should read this book, there is no substitute for good basics.
There are no easy buttons with horses.Some of the things is this book can make a huge difference in your relationship with your horse.Time and patience are still best.

Xenophon's 350 BC manual on how to take care of a horse and look good riding one
I had a good time reading through this reprint of Morris Morgan's 1893 translation of Xenophon's "The Art of Horsemanship" (350 BC).Unlike many of the other ancient Greek translations and authors, this one is very easy to read.

The text itself is fairly short and reads quickly, sprinkled with wisdom.After the text is another short portion from 1893, which talks about "The Greek Riding-Horse", based on Xenophon and all the other available sources.Additionally, the footnotes to the text are quite interesting--I read them, for the most part, en block after reading the text.

As the title implies, the text is a very hands-on, practical guide to "everything you need to know" about how to take care of and look good riding a horse, reading like a "Horsemanship for Dummies" book.If you're interested in Ancient Greece and horses, you've got to read this short "instruction manual", though if you're only interested in the ancients, it's still fun to breeze through this text, nevertheless. ... Read more

Product Description
Xenophon's "History" recounts nearly fifty turbulent years of warfare in Greece between 411 and 362 BC. Continuing the story of the Peloponnesian War at the point where Thucydides finished his magisterial history, this is a fascinating chronicle of the conflicts that ultimately led to the decline of Greece, and the wars with both Thebes and the might of Persia. An Athenian by birth, Xenophon became a firm supporter of the Spartan cause, and fought against the Athenians in the battle of Coronea. Combining history and memoir, this is a brilliant account of the triumphs and failures of city-states, and a portrait of Greece at a time of crisis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Review of Warner's Hellenica
Warner's Hellenica has many interesting aspects. To begin, he gives it a surprising English title. Next, he dismisses Xenophon as a poor historian within his very brief introduction to the work. He then proceeds to present a very readable, interesting edition of the work. Admittedly, Xenophon isn't difficult to translate, but Warner's translation is astoundingly clear. This is a high quality work (with footnotes).

Cons: again, short, dismissive introduction, but that's it.

Decent translation of important work
When I rate translations of ancient documents, I tend to do so on the basis of the importance of that work, availability of other translations and the readability of the translation.

First, Xenophon's Hellenica is important here for a number of reasons.He covers the later portion of the Peloponesian War not covered by Theucidides and so it is an important companion to that work.Xenophon also brings out a different perspective on Athenian democracy than is found elsewhere (his sympathies were with Sparta).Hence from a historical perspective, this work is important.Though many of the reviewers have given more negative feedback and they have valid points from the perspective of a general reader, these points don't reduce the overall value of this work from a historical perspective.

Secondly, I thought the translation was good, readable, and affordable, and hence made a decent translation for those wanting to read this work.

All in all, this is a book that individuals who are interested in classical studies will want to read and this is a good edition of the work.Recommended with all of this in mind.

Then... why not Diodorus?
After reading Mr. Warner's introduction to Xenophon's "History of My Times" there was only one thought in my mind: if Xenophon is so bad a Greek historian (he is indeed; it just takes a few pages to see it) compared to Diodorus Siculus, then why has Penguin Books not published an affordable edition of the latter's account of Greek history? The only one available out there, if I'm correct, is a bilingual (Greek-English) edition by Loeb Classical Library which costs almost $30 with tax. Hey Penguin guys out there... Are you interested in making some money?

Great book with annoying notes
Xenophon's History of My Times picks up roughly where Thucydides left off. After finishing the account of the long and exhausting Peloponnesian War, Xenophon continues with stories of intrigues, betrayals, campaigns and bravery up to the year 362 BC. The Corinthian War, Greek incursions in Asia Minor, and Xenophon's Spartan heroes are all depicted in this work.

It's not nearly as good as Thucydides, nor nearly as exhaustive. Thucydides devoted about 600 pages (in my edition) to the first twenty years of the Peloponnesian War; Xenophon covers almost fifty years in about 350 pages. And while Thucydides's historical method has earned him the title of "first modern historian" and set the standard for centuries afterward, Xenophon is selective in his detail, sometimes wrong, and often biased. But Xenophon is still a gifted writer and the story he tells is brisk and exciting, if not necessarily the whole picture.

The thing I disliked about reading this book, the Penguin Classics edition, was the notes by George Cawkwell. He sets out well enough in the introduction that Xenophon's history is flawed and among the least of his works, being far inferior to something like The Persian Expedition, but Cawkwell litters the text with footnote after footnote pointing out Xenophon's every mistake and omission. It was instructive, at first, to know how Xenophon's account differed with that of other historians, but by the time I was a third of the way through the notes had the exasperating effect of a know-it-all heckler during an admittedly flawed but entertaining speech.

That said, Xenophon's history is still worth reading, and this translation by Rex Warner is excellent--fast-paced and very readable. If you're looking for history that Thucydides did not live to write about, this is one good place to find it.

Recommended.

Independence
This is by all means a heavily underrated book.
Xenophon lays bare the essential characteristics of his (and our) time and its crucial kernel, independence.

Inside the Greek cities, independence meant democracy, which was the political regime in Athens. The latter's arch-rival, Sparta, had an oligarchic rule, a government controlled by a king and the aristocracy.
When Sparta defeated Athens, it put immediately a lackey oligarchic government (the Thirty) in place. The oligarchs could `do exactly what they liked with the state.' They went on a killing spree, murdering all democratic opponents, in casu, `more Athenians than all the Peloponnesians did in ten years of war.' They confiscated illegally the property of resident aliens and when people could vote, it was in full view.
Xenophon knows perfectly the importance of education: `For I know that in Persia everybody except one man is educated to be a slave rather than stand up for himself.'

Inside the Peloponnesus, independence meant freedom for every city: `the cities must be independent, which means not to set up your own government ... what you aim at is not that they should govern in accordance with the laws, but that they should be strong enough to hold down the city by force. This makes it look like as though what gives you pleasure is dictatorship and not constitutional government.'
The Greek cities fought against each other to become `like the king of Persia ... the richest man on earth ... he gets his revenue from a continent.' The reward for control was solid tribute, but also the goldmines of Mount Pangaeum.
This continuous infighting and the relentless changes of alliances were a catastrophe for the populations. The inhabitants of the conquered cities were enslaved and sold or slaughtered, the crops and towns burned, cattle and precious metals stolen. The city was completely annihilated.
The war ended with the peace of Antalcidas in 387 B.C. on very favorable terms for Sparta.

Xenophon's book could also serve as a manual for vicious (bribery, infiltration, spying, informants) or clever diplomacy: `guard against the emergence of any single strong Greek state by seeing that they were all kept weak by constantly fighting among themselves.'
It is also an encyclopedia for military tactics: where, when and how to fight and how to keep the morale of the troops high.
He is also a fine psychologist: `people call a man `good' merely because he has been good to them.'

To the contrary of his joke, `even the golden plane tree was not big enough to give shade to a grasshopper', Xenophon's book puts many authors in the shadow.

A must read for all historians and lovers of classical literature.
... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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Written in the early fourth century BCE by a gentleman and soldier from Athens, "Cyropaedia" is an account of Cyrus the Great that escapes a simple genre placement. It is a sort of historical, political, biographical, fictional romance, encapsulating the sweeping type of narrative characteristic of Xenophon's works. The overall portrait of Cyrus is artistic, offering glimpses of this huge figure's character. Organized into eight books, the entire life of Cyrus the Great is told, from his descent and education to his stay in the Median court, and eventually his own kingship and monarchical views. Considered an important piece of literature by many historical figures, from Edmund Spenser to the Founding Fathers, "Cyropaedia" is an ancient text that contains a timeless relevance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Education of Cyrus
Book in excellent shape, arrived quickly, great price. Don't know what else there is.

The book itself is a translation. Must have been made in the 19th century. English is a bit on the flowery side, but fairly accurate withal. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection contains:
Aristotle's The Constitution of Athens
Xenophon's The Politeia of the Spartans
The Constitution of the Athenians ascribed to Xenophon the Orator
The Boeotian Constitution from the Oxyrhynchus Historian
In bringing together, translating, and annotating these constitutional documents from ancient Greece thirty five years ago, J. M. Moore produced an authoritative work of the highest scholarship. An explanatory essay by classics scholar Kurt A. Raaflaub expands this indispensable collection.
... Read more

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After the execution of Socrates in 399 BC, a number of his followers wrote dialogues featuring him as the protagonist and, in so doing, transformed the great philosopher into a legendary figure. Xenophon's portrait is the only one other than Plato's to survive, and while it offers a very personal interpretation of Socratic thought, it also reveals much about the man and his philosophical views. In 'Socrates' Defence' Xenophon defends his mentor against charges of arrogance made at his trial, while the 'Memoirs of Socrates' also starts with an impassioned plea for the rehabilitation of a wronged reputation. Along with 'The Estate-Manager', a practical economic treatise, and 'The Dinner-Party', a sparkling exploration of love, Xenophon's dialogues offer fascinating insights into the Socratic world and into the intellectual atmosphere and daily life of ancient Greece. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

A wonderful book!
This is a very, very different portrait of Socrates from the one painted by Plato. Probably, if you are considering buying this book, you have studied Plato at least somewhat.Plato's and Xenophon's accounts of Socrates are views of the man from totally different angles.I very much enjoyed Xenophon's representation of Socrates as a character.There are some extremely funny stories.I especially loved the story of Socrates' "philosophical" encounter with the courtesan Theodote.I confess, though, that after reading this book I understand the role of homosexuality in Greek culture even less than I did before.But that bafflement, too, is part of the interest of the book.

Like others writing here, I like Xenophon as a writer much better than Robin Waterfield does -- or at least, I like Tredennick's and Waterfield's Xenophon much better than Waterfield himself likes Xenophon in Greek.

I thought Waterfield's introductions were excellent, but I recommend reading them after you read the original material, not before.

I don't know Greek, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of the translations by Tredennick and Waterfield, but I found them to be graceful and a pleasure to read.They always felt stylistically just right.

Like others writing here, I was frustrated by the lack of precise line numbering, and the lack of a note on the text.

Physically: the paper is cheap, but the font is large and clear.The book is relatively comfortable to hold open (always an issue with paperbacks).

This book definitely makes me want to read more of Xenophon.

[Disclaimer: I did not buy this book from Amazon, but I buy plenty of other books from Amazon.]

Must Read
A must read for all who are in the pursuit of virtue and character development.Classic principles of behavior, no longer popular in today's culture, are detailed in easy to understand language.

Review of Penguin Classics' Dialogues of Xenophon
I really enjoyed the effort Waterfield put into his introductions, both at the very beginning of the collection and before each peice of the collection. His examines the biographical, historical and dramatic aspects of each work with about as much detail as one could manage.

The translations are very readable, and supplemented by footnotes.

One issue: it is impossible to cite from Xenophon with this translation. Each page features of a range from which to cite at the top, but not specific margin numbers (where does 13.1 end and 13.2 begin? the page gives 13.1-14.7)

I believe Hackett is soon publishing this same collection. If I were reading Xenophon in the near future, I would take a look at that collection, which will hopefully have everything in this collection, along with proper margin numbers.

Xenophon, my hero!
I have always admired Xenophon. As a high school student I was in awe at his courage and extraordinary life. He was one tough "hombre." A warrior, a thinker, and a practical man who also knew farming and the equestrian art, he had been a student of Socrates'; in this book he allows us to get an additional glimpse of Socrates, beyond the well known Platonic accounts. The Socratic virtues Xenophon highlights are self-control, self-knowledge, and purity of life. Anyone who is attracted to those virtues will find much inspiration in Xenophon's "Conversations." I did not enjoy very much "The Dinner Party": call me homophobic, but I was never impressed with the Greek fascination for handsome boys. I also found "The Estate Manager" a bit too technical as a sub-urban, middle-class man of the XXI century. All in all, the translator ensured a smooth reading of the texts, for which he should be commended.

Xenophon delivers
I have always admired Xenophon. As a high school student I was in awe at his courage and extraordinary life. He was one tough "hombre." A warrior, a thinker, and a practical man who also knew faming and the equestrian art, he was a student of Socrates; in this book he allows us to get an additional glimpse of Socrates besides the well known Platonic accounts. The Socratic virtues Xenophon highlights are self-control and purity of life. Anyone who is attracted to those virtues will find much inspiration in Xenophon's "Conversations." I did not enjoy very much "The Dinner Party": call me homophobic, but I was never impressed with the Greek fascination for handsome boys. I also found "The Estate Manager" a bit too technical as a sub-urban, middle-class man of the XXI century. All in all, the translators ensured a smooth reading of the texts, for which they should be commended. ... Read more

Product Description
When Cyrus and the Greek military leaders are killed in an attempt to seize the throne of Persia, Xenophon, a young Greek soldier, is chosen to lead the troops out of the hostile country. ... Read more

Product Description
Hunting with dogs is first documented on 4th millennium BC seal impressions from Iraq and from Egypt slightly later. The earliest surviving instruction manual is that of Xenophon, which outlines the practice of hunting with dogs and seeks to justify its use in education and training for war. Arrian's treatise some 500 years later is a commentary on Xenophon and marks a revolution in the practice of hunting. The Greek texts are given along with an English translation and commentary. Includes a good illustrated introduction. ... Read more

Product Description
The Oeconomicus is unique in Greek literature in combining a discussion of the proper management of a family or household and didactic material on agriculture within a Socratic dialogue. One of the richest primary sources for the social, economic, and intellectual history of classical Athens, it has been largely neglected despite the current widespread interest in the subjects discussed. This volume provides a new translation to complement the Oxford Classical Text, and a comprehensive introduction and commentary, making the book readily accessible to those both with and without Greek. ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Horsemanship; Sports ... Read more

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Relying exclusively on the texts, Professor Strauss analyzes and compares every seemingly casual utterance as well as the more formal statements to recover the true Socrates and to determine the character of political philosophy. He investigates its origins, possibilities, and intention against the nonphilosophical background from which it emerged. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

wrong photo
The Amazon book cover photo above is of Xenophon's Socrates isbn:1587319659.
This web page is selling Xenophon's Socratic Discourse An Interpretation of the Oeconomicus isbn:1587319667. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (13)

Xenophon's Cyrus the Great: The Arts of Leadership and War
Xenophon's Cyrus the Great: The Arts of Leadership and War is an "Outstanding" book of interest and history. It would have been neat if the author would have referred as to where in the Bible it referred to Cyrus.It's in the books of Ezra Chapters 1,3,4,5,6, II Chronicles Chapter 36, Isaiah Chapters 44, 45, and Daniel Chapters 1, 6 10, tell of Cyrus. Xenophon's Cyrus the Great is Highly recommended!

Great Historical Book on an overshadowed and forgotten leader!
Anyone who wants to know who Cyrus the Great was, this is as great an insight into him as one can get(aside the Old Testament where he is mentioned several times).For being one of the most enlightened and great leaders of world history, it's a shame more books aren't out there on him.

Insightful and Inspirational
Xenophon's account of Cyrus's expedition and conquests is great. He portrays a man inspired by God (though Xenophon has him worshipping other gods too, some historians have pointed out that Cyrus actually believed in one God from a young age, after converting to Judaism). Further weight is given to this by the fact that some Islamic scholars believe God is referring to Cyrus in Sura Al-Kahf of the Quran, when God mentions a conquest undertaken by a believer called Dhul-Qurnain (The Two Horned - as translated in English).

The book may weigh down the interest of those who are not interested in military strategy, as some sections lean quite heavily towards that direction. However the last few chapters are just gold, leaving you with that warm, happy feeling as Cyrus leaves this world. The advice on principles of life imparted by Cyrus in the last few chapters are very insightful and speak to humans of all ages. He was truly a very insightful and ambitious man. As a previous reviewer has pointed out, the book portrays Cyrus as being an elitist whereas he had read in a history book of Cyrus being raised up by shepherds and being a man of the people. Im not sure which is correct, but Xenophons account is not a literal historical account of the man I believe, but more so a recount of the lasting legacy and impact he had as a leader to a landas far away as Greece, where Xenophon lived.

All in all it is a great account by Xenophon, with many insightful and inspirational one liners and principles, which really can be applied in all situations of life.

modified version of the oryginal work
This work has one really big weak point. This book is an abridged version of the oryginal Cyropaedia, which was written by Xenophon.

Xenophon was a monarchist, what is also clealy seen in this modified version of the oryginal work.

All changes introduced by the author to the oryginal text of this work of Xenophon are given in the preface.

Text is properly written and you can read this book easily.

A quantum of Xenophone
Having read Xenophon's Anabasis as a youth, I was excited when I saw another translation of one of his works on the bookshelf.But now that I have read a few pages, I am going to contact Xenophon in the underworld about getting himself a good attorney.

While I am unsure of the status of copyright laws in ancient Athens, I am sure that Larry Hendricks has created a cause of action.Signed litigiously Jim Silverman ... Read more

Product Description

In The Expedition of Cyrus, the Western world's first eyewitness account of a military campaign, Xenophon told how, in 401 B.C., a band of unruly Greek mercenaries traveled east to fight for the Persian prince Cyrus the Younger in his attempt to wrest the throne of the mighty Persian empire from his brother.

With this first masterpiece of Western military history forming the backbone of his book, Robin Waterfield explores what remains unsaid and assumed in Xenophon's account—much about the gruesome nature of ancient battle and logistics, the lives of Greek and Persian soldiers, and questions of historical, political, and personal context, motivation, and conflicting agendas. The result is a rounded version of the story of Cyrus's ill-fated march and the Greeks' perilous retreat--a nuanced and dramatic perspective on a critical moment in history that may tell us as much about our present-day adventures in the Middle East, site of Cyrus's debacle and the last act of the Golden Age, as it does about the great powers of antiquity in a volatile period of transition.

Just as Xenophon brought the thrilling, appalling expedition to life, Waterfield evokes Xenophon himself as a man of his times—reflecting for all time invaluable truths about warfare, overweaning ambition, the pitfalls of power, and the march of history.

Customer Reviews (4)

Well done!
Robin Waterfield did a great job in summarizing the historical circumstances that preceded and followed the troublesome return home of a contingent of Greek mercenaries in 400 BC. The journey back home took about a year; it cost the lives of thousands of Greeks, members of their families and slaves who accompanied the warriors. He also wrote a very insightful last chapter on the legacy of the battle of Cunaxa. I recoomend reading this text as well as an accompanying historical fiction (such as Michael Curtis Ford's "The Ten Thousand").

If You Loved the Anabasis...
I recently finished reading Xenophon's Anabasis was really impressed with his eye witness account of a military campaign that took place 2,400 years ago.However, there were numerous historical references that I did not understand and I wanted to find a book that put the Anabasis into its proper historical context.Robin Waterfield's "Xenophon's Retreat" fit the bill perfectly.Waterfield has made a career out of translating Xenophon and other Ancient Greek writers and knows the Anabasis with the intamacy that only a translator can posses.With great skill and diligence, Waterfield's puts the Cyrean retreat into its proper context.He knows Xenephon as thoroughly as any scholar alive today and is willing to pass judgement on Xenophon's character and motivations."Xenophon's Retreat" was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it.

Way more than just a translation...
Though, at its heart, "Xenophon's Retreat" is a summary of "The Expedition of Cyrus" (the first, and one of the most important, military campaign accounts of the ancient world), this book is surprisingly more than just a translation.

Written with a fantastically dry wit by an author who actually retraced the life, and travels, of "The Expedition's" Greek creator, it not only tells the story of Cyrus' ill-fated uprising, but also takes a very reasonable, and enlightening, approach to the ancient Greeks as a people...providing critical background on not only Xenophon (something that was desperately lacking until now), but also the social, economic, and political forces of the world he lived in.

As someone who's read more than my share of military history, I loved the balance it strikes between the technical, the philosophical, and the practical.In particular, I was impressed with the religious and cultural perspectives it provides on history that is so often left to relatively dry statistics.Turns out it's absolutely remarkable how much more sense the military aspects of the ancient world makes once you get a glimpse at the rest of the picture.

All in all, "Xenophon's Retreat" is unlike anything else I've ever read in the field, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Interesting Overview of Xenophon's Life and Times
This book is more than a summary of Xenophon's `The Expedition of Cyrus'. It gives an outline of Xenophon's life in the backdrop of the places and times in which he lived. I found the account of the Cyreans' march to and from Cunaxa, as well as the battle itself, to be particularly gripping. The political shenanigans that are described both before and after the march, to me, seemed less interesting in comparison; however, these descriptions do allow the reader to form a more complete picture of what life was like and the way people reasoned things out in those turbulent times. The writing style is clear and engaging; several black and white photographs complement the text. This book should of particular interest to ancient history buffs. ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Read
Xenophon's Anabasis should be read by all who lead others in battles and in business.The excellent examples of leadership-under-stress are as valid today as they were in early Greek times.A must read! ... Read more