Book description
'With icy remorselessness, it puts paid to any notion that the horrors of modern history might be an aberration - for it tells of universal war, of terrorism, revolution and genocide' Tom Holland
The long life-and-death struggle between Athens and Sparta plunged the ancient Greek world into decades of war.…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The History of the Peloponnesian War as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This is a timeless – and timely – account of the war between Athens and Sparta.
Thucydides explores power, fear, security, and human nature—forces still central to international relations today. The concept of the "Thucydides Trap", where a rising power threatens an established one, is often cited in current discussions of U.S.-China relations.
While offering a foundational realist view of power politics and the cyclical nature of conflict, Thucydides also prompts us to ask whether such outcomes are inevitable. I find his work especially relevant today as we seek ways to temper zero-sum thinking and foster a more…
From Nayef's list on understanding the key forces shaping international relations today.
I loved this when I first read it many years ago during my studies of Ancient Greek Art & Literature: all the familiar names and places, such as Helen of Troy. The best element for me was this early translation in 1948, with a fascinating use of the English language by an expert professor from an old Public School.
His language is ironic and amusing in places, but he also despairs at the futility of it all. You will recognize this futility continuing to the present day when he describes how hostilities began and different ‘tribes’ on the same side…
From Jacqueline's list on futility of War since Helen of Troy.
If you love The History of the Peloponnesian War...
These Blue Mountains
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
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