Greece Books

Extremely well reserached and briskly written, this book provides both young people and general adult readers with an outstanding general overview of ancient Athenian society, culture, arts, religious festivals, athletics, warfare, and plenty more. Also, the author has done a fine job of selecting and editing primary and secondary source quotes that enliven the text while making it that much more authoritative. The large glossary and even larger bibliography are an added bonus in this excellent entry, which I highly recommend.

I really got a lot out of this little book, even though its written for kids. Stuff about the ancient world fascinates me, and this historian, Don Nardo, really knows how to explain things clearly and simply at the same time includes tons of interesting details. I recommend the book to everybody who like to read about ancient societies.

As a high school history teacher, I appreciate studies of ancient times that manage to cover the subject in appropriate detail and at the same time hold the reader's interest, particularly younger readers, who can be and often are turned off at the idea of studying about anything that happened before they were born. This volume, one of a recent series of studies of ancient Greece and Rome for young people by historian Don Nardo, perfectly blends factual, accurate information about ancient Athenian society with an easy-to-read, often lively writing style. The first chapter presents an excellent summary of the city and its people in the Bronze Age. Subsequent chapters cover Athens' growth over the centuries, the establishment of its political institutions, its homelife and social life, the role and status of women, religious beliefs and customs (with a riveting description of the yearly festival and sacrifices dedicated to the goddess Athena), athletic games, art and sculpture, and warfare. This is non-scholarly historical writing at its best and I recommend it highly to both history teachers and casual readers.

I use the Dover coloring books often as I home school. The kids are busy, quiet AND they listen. It really helps to reinforce the lessons when they color the same things that they are learning about. There is a Dover book for most major subjects!

I am using this resource with homeschool Pre to 2nd grade children. This coloring book helps Greece come to life with pictures of markets, shipping, a wedding, several different tradesmen at their trade, children playing, senate, theater, school, ect...

One warning, four pages (out of roughly 45 pictures) have nudity: two of Olympic games and one gym (tastefully covering the front, but showing male backsides) and then one of a topless dancing/acrobatic girl at a party. I choose to scan them, in order to give them clothing.

Other content: there are solider scenes with weapons bristling, but only two battle scenes (one on water and one on land). For battle scenes both are tasteful, even for younger dc. It also includes about four pages of religious ceremonies/scenes, including the oracle at Delphi.

Overall an excellent resource; very well done!!

I like this coloring book for children because it will help bring lessons on Ancient Greece to life and reinforce basic facts. It is organized primarily by chronology, has fairly complex drawings with enough detail and background for interest, and most significantly contains a brief historical note at the bottom of each picture. It includes highligts like Solon introducing reforms, Hipparchus being assasinated, Socrates being found guilty and condemned to death and Aristotle tutoring young Alexander. It also includes more general topics like weddings and funerals, the market, shipping and more. There is some male nudity (not frontal) like at the Gymnasium and Olympics. There is some incorporation of Greek mythology (like sculpting of a statue of Hermes, and consulting an oracle at Delphi.) Note, however, the art is not done in Ancient Greek style, but rather more realistic, scene by scene.

This is good for any grade schooler or even a high schooler who still likes to color. The covers and inside covers have art which are the colored scenes of ones found in the book, so there is also some direction or incentive to make the art come to life.

Useful alone or with a curriculum.

This is one of the best general examinations of ancient Greek civilization I have ever seen for young people. It's chocked full of useful and fasinating information about both the history and lives of the Greeks, and it also tells a lot about how modern scholars learn about these facts. All high school classes that cover ancient culures should be using this book.

I saw this book in the juvenile section of my library and figured it couldn't have the kind of detailed information I was looking for about ancient Greece. Boy, was I ever wrong! The author has managed to collect a tremendous amount of facts about Greece's history and important leaders and everytday life, etc. and put them together in a sweeping summary of an ancient civilization. I also found the many references to archeological studies of Greek sites to be very helpful. Though shorter than many adult books I have seen on Greece, this one is mcuh better than most. I heartily recommend it.

Anyone familiar with the non-fiction history books that have been published in the young adult market in recent years has to be impressed with classical historian Don Nardo. As prolific as Michael Grant, as versatile as Chester G. Starr, and as thorough as A.H.M. Jones (for non-history buffs, three of the leading ancient historians of the twentieth century), Nardo has devoted several years of his time and energy to improving, and indeed single-handedly setting, the standard of historical writing for books used as reference in libraries in schools in the United States. As a former high school and junior college instructor, I have had frequent occasion to scan, review, and sometimes utilize such books in my classes, and I can testify that, with some rare exceptions, most are written by non-specialists who have little idea of what to emphasize in their texts or how to differentiate between current and dated material. These volumes are typically riddled with factual errors or at least misleading statements that students writing reports and other papers accept without question and which I have found myself correcting on a regular basis. Nardo's books, in contrast, are factually reliable and cover their subjects with thoughtful attention to organization, proper emphasis, and inclusion of the most recent available data. This general overview of Greek civilization is no exception. It combines a feeling of epic sweep with meticulous attention to detail, much of the latter dealing with archaeological finds and how these have contributed to our knowledge of Greek history and culture. His companion volumes in the same series-one on the Romans, the other on ancient Mesopotamia-are equally good for the same reasons. In addtion, his fulsome "Complete History of Ancient Greece," containing huge amounts of extremely valuable reference material, is a must for every school and community library.

This book provides easy to follow Greek recipes for cooks at any level! So many delicious recipes to try! Greek food made fun and easy!

John S. Kaldes has a passion for preparing and sharing authentic Greek cuisine recipes. Made In Greece: A Guided Tour Of Greek Cooking is hallmarked with easy-to-follow, step-by-step preparation instructions and guidelines that will enable even the most novice kitchen cook to turn out gourmet quality Greek dishes. From Tiganites Patates me Avga (Fried Potatoes with Eggs); Fasolakia Yahni (String Beans with Onions and Tomatoes); and Kotopoulo Souvlaki (Chicken Kebab); to Arni me Kolokythia (Lamb with Zucchini); Ravani (Farina Cake with Syrup); and Tsourekia (Easter Bread) Made In Greece will quickly become a popular addition gracing any family cookbook collection.

This is probably the most comprehensive Greek cookbook out there. And being greek american myself, the nice thing is that I don't have to bother my parents anymore for recipes - it is easy to follow with step by step instructions and with alternatives to hard to find ingredients. I use this all the time. You should too!

This book is an in depth look at one of the most fascinating regions of Greece. Fermor's knowledge of the Hellenic people seems boundless

MANI ... It is not for nothing that Patrick Leigh Fermor is generally considered the greatest living travel writer in English. Reading any one of his books, always a smooth, elegant and intellectually exciting undertaking, is to accept an invitation to the private world of a master observer of places and manners who is also pretty sharp in such areas of human endeavor as history, architecture, music, theology, psychology, mythology, and languages both classical and modern. He is extremely erudite - an autodidact, he says - and his approach to travel writing is strictly literary and sometimes sublimely so. This book, doubtless conceived as a companion volume to ROUMELI, which deals with Northern Greece, takes us to the southernmost part of the Peloponnesus. Unfortunately, the world of rocks and rustics and supreme beauty it describes is now largely vanished, so it is therefore of great value to have a traveler's vision and memory of it as it was about sixty years ago. Always subtle and elegant, the story takes on a heightened aesthetic and intellectual intensity at certain points and in particular locales. For example, the opening paragraph of the book's final chapter describes the writer's arrival at Gytheio by means of an extended metaphor comparing entrance into a city with the act of coitus, and if any reader should miss this metaphor let me point out the author's use of such words as maidenhead and deflower. A further adornment of the metaphor, conceptual and literary, is provided by the revelation that the little island a few yards off the coast, now named Marathonisi and now connected to Gytheio by a causeway, but called Kranae by Homer, is in fact the island where Paris and Helen spent their fist night after the famous elopement. At another point the reader is invited to watch the dolphins scull down at exactly the imaginary line in the Adriatic where the filioque drops out of the creed. We are allowed to eavesdrop on a group of centaurs on the Pelion Peninsula, and a passing reference to Henry Miller and George Katsimbalis develops into a chain reaction of crowing roosters around the world and back again. There s an excellent chapter on the peculiar little village of Areopolis, the gateway to the Inner Mani, where the author attempts an interpretation of the ancient carvings on churches and houses. This marvelous book will be of interest to anyone who feels attracted to the beauties of Greece and its people, but also to those who enjoy supremely well-written prose.

Patrick Fermor writes about the section of Greece called the Mani (both Inner and Outer) in great detail. There is no better reference for the Mani between the time of the second world war and about 1968. His mastery of both the culture and history of the Mani is second to none.

He is a wonderfull writer, with a story telling style that makes it hard to put the book down. He has a love of the area that shows thorugh in all he writes. (He has now, by the way, made the area his permanent home.)

If you want background on the Mani, this book is a "must have".

Besides acting as a unique and unparalleled historical document of people and a time gone by--one that has never before been seen--this book is filled with some of the most extraordinary photography I have ever seen. It's quite rare to see such a combination of history and art.

Images of faith and holiness are not hard to come buy, but to find historical collections of them is rather rare. Zimbardo does a masterful job in presenting the subject with as little interruption between the viewer and the subject as possible, capturing the spirit of the monks beautifully. In so doing, he transports us to Mount Athos, the Holy Mountain of Eastern Orthodoxy where there exists a world of faith, sacrifice, and holiness that few of us will ever encounter in a personal way. Well worth viewing!

There is a similar collection of photos of Romanian monks under the title "Eikon" that is in print, but very difficult to find.

The story behind these photos makes them all the more awe-inspiring, but their beauty stands alone. Superb photography and design, unique and amazing subject. If you're looking for something new from a photography book, this is it.

This new Homer's Odyssey translation by Rodney Merrill strives to be very literal to the Greek and to also match the line and meter of the Greek, to the extent that can be done in English. That said, the translation reads very well on the page, and in skimming through any particular book of the great epic poem one can see that Merrill has classic aesthetic taste regarding some of his choice of epithets and turns of phrases (as well as his overall approach). 'Great-hearted Odysseus', for instance, is a far better translation than 'Kind Odysseus' or 'Valiant Odysseus' or any of the numerous other choices one can find in all the many 20th century English translations. I point out that one little epithet just to give a sense of Merrill's approach. 'Great-hearted' suggests a level of being higher than the average human being, and that is what Odysseus possesses. Sticking to the literal meaning of the Greek like that (and I assume this is what Merrill has done in that epithet since he announces that this is his overall intention in translating the poem) is what is needed in a translation of the Odyssey (or Iliad). Just in the way that you can get a good feel for a translation this one has that good feel about it. It looks similar to Lattimore on the page, yet it reads much better. Maybe not poetically (go to Chapman or Pope for that), but for what Merrill seems to be attempting it comes across as successful.

Rodney Merrill's poetic rendering of the Odyssey is superlative. It's greatest value over against all other translations lies in its dedication to the *ancient meter* (replacing Greek length with English stress). Read this easily understood, clear, illuminating version out loud and you will feel the entrancing poetry produced by careful attention given by Merrill to the rhythmic, metric elements of Greek epic and to historical accuracy. I had studied the Odyssey and read it in ancient Greek over the period of a semester's study and a year's reading. After sludging through Lattimore and Fagles, I turned to Humphries, who was much better than the other two, with a true sense of rhythm and no *embarassingly anachronistic* words or turns of phrase. But at a special reading at CSU San Francisco, I was able to hear Merrill speak, read some passages and compare texts. I immediately noted a much higher passion for and knowledge of the work itself in his translation, the choices that he made in words and paraphrases. Note: all translations paraphrase drastically because English is so different from Homeric Greek. Rodney, however, does it *well*. See if you can find the paperback version from Michigan University press. The hardcover is nice, but out of most students' and poetry-lovers' price-range. The paperback is available and affordable.

Rodney Merrill's rendering of the Odyssey represents translation at its best ; it serves Homer beautifully in that it is written to be read aloud, and to arouse the emotional solidarity between the performer and its audience that will be understood at once by people who go to listen to music played in public today. You will enjoy the rich materiality of the text (the rythm of the drumming consonants and the melody of the short and long vowels) in its accurate relationship to the characters of the heroes and to the development of story. This new translation will contribute to the enduring popularity of the Odyssey.

How do you know what makes a true hero a hero??? This book truly has it all. The story brings out so many emotions from the reader. You see triumph, you feel defeat, you cry at loss. This story encompasses so many lessons that we often forget every day. ES Kraay has a way of telling an amazing story and making us re-evaluate how we think. The entire time I was reading this story, I could just picture every detail. We often forget what truly makes a man, a 'man.' We can all relate to thinking Theo is a man's man. He is big. He is powerful. He is a boxing champion! What man would not want to be feared by all in their respective areas??? But as Kraay reveals as the story develops, it is not who we are that defines us, it is what we give back and who we become that people remember. It is about plenty more than us as individuals. This book takes you through a whirpool of mixed emotions, that leave you wanting more! It is a very quick and easy read. Once you start reading, you do not want to put it down! The further you get into it, the better it becomes. I cannot wait to see this movie on the big screen!!! The characters are so relatable. We all know a Theo. We all know a Simonides. You can feel their pain as they watched the Spartans amazing display of courage at Thermopylae. As Theo digs the massive grave, you want to be their helping him; not because he needs our physical help, but because you feel him growing. You see him making the turn as a human being and realizing life is about much more than his personal conquest. All I can say is do yourself a favor, read this book. It will open your eyes. It will give you a friendly reminder of ageless lessons!!!! I cannot wait to see what is next up by this amazing newcomer!!!! GREAT WORK!

Gene Kraay masterfully introduces us into the ancient world of Greece. Kraay's enthusiasm for his characters, their thoughts, and their challenges, quickly become our characters, our thoughts, and our challenges. It is evident from the outset that the author loves this story and is genuinely anxious to share that love with us. He succeeds in grand fashion. As he develops each character, and their unique and distinct personalities, we seamlessly slip into their shoes, recognizing a slice of our own personalities in each. We have all thought ourselves a poet, like Simonides, a peacemaker like Parmenides, self centered, in our youth, like Xeno, and all of us dream of being a hero and champion, like Theagenes
While Kraay leads us through the landscape of ancient Greece, he subtlety educates us on this most critical time of our history, and he does so with passion and fervor. The excitement of olympic competition is interwoven within this history and is experienced in both victory and defeat. This novel will evoke a multitude of your emotions, from love and compassion, to fear and anger, and ultimately, reflective satisfaction and joy.
Ancient Hellas would be proud of E.S. Kraay and his Olympian.

I am an avid reader of non-fiction, with a few fiction books scattered here and there. However, while perusing through the new books that were being offered, I saw the magnetizing cover of this one, 'The Olympian', which seemed to stand out from all of the rest. I decided to take a peek inside, and after reading just the first paragraph, I was already ready to buy this. As soon as this book arrived, I began to read, and I have to say, this is one of the most amazing ones I've ever read. The entire book was full of outstanding imagery, which took me straight to Ancient Hellas! I was wrapped up inside of this beautiful tale from beginning to end. I think that this book lies somewhere in between fiction and non-fiction, as the people involved as characters in this book are real people which the author brought to life. This author, E.S. Kraay, has done a wonderful job weaving this together, and it is easy to see that he has a pure love of writing. I am hoping that there will be ANOTHER book from this author soon. I highly recommend this outstanding piece of writing to anyone who loves reading a book that takes them to another place altogether, a place where you feel as if you are friends with the characters, a place where you can feel what they are feeling, a place where you can escape from the business of everyday worldly life. That is what a great book does! Great job E.S. Kraay, and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!

I've read a lot of books in my time, but this is the first review I've written. I believe this novel deserves my praise and your attention! It's about sports, it's about war, but most of all, it's about people. The characters are memorable.

A week ago or so, I took a chance on an unknown author. With the Olympic games in full swing, I stumbled across this novel and decided to give it a chance, and I couldn't be more thrilled that I did; in short, this extraordinary story of Theagenes, the bull of Thasos, is an absolute gem.

Reading the summary of the book on Amazon does this book little justice, though one line certainly does hit the nail on the head: "Two men, one a boxer, the other a poet, come to the revelation that the true worth of a man is based on more than what he does for himself." The truth behind this statement is as firm today as it was in 480 BCE.

The story is free flowing and an easy read. It is narrated by the old and wise Simonides, a well known poet, who will no doubt remind the reader of a favorite teacher, grandfather, etc. Theagenes, a boxer is "The Olympian" as referred to in the title of the book. Born through a "divine birth," Theo is the epitome of an athlete physically, though his cockiness and behavior aren't up to par with his physical presence. Theo's goal in life is to defeat Lampis, the Spartan champion at the 75th Olympiad, 480 BCE (that is the year that King Xerxes and his army marched on Greece). However, when Spartan King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans march to the Hot Gates at Thermopylae, Lampis leaves Olympia before the games had commenced to join his King in battle knowing that the attacking Persians would not honor the sacred truce, which was issued during the Olympic games, no wars would be fought.

I'll not reveal the secrets contained in this story. I will tell you you will get a good look at the ancient Olympics and ancient Greek life. I emphasize that the book is more about the summary line I referred to earlier, "the worth of a man." This book is not about the Battle of Thermopylae though the final scene is stunning. Other authors, notably Steven Pressfield have done that justice. But what happens at Thermopylae in this book will linger on your mind for a long, long time.

I highly recomend giving this book a shot; the story is a gripping and compelling page-turner. I, for one, am eager to see what E.S. Kraay will bring us next.

The greatest of all Greek historians was the Athenian general Thucydides (455-400 B.C.E.). Thucydides' classic work, "History Of The Peloponnesian War", provides us with the historical framework for 5th century Greece, a golden age of intellectual achievement and creativity rarely equaled in human history. This history is by far the best account of the bitter war between Athens and Sparta as well as the only surviving contemporary record of the rise of the Athenian empire. Thucydides as a master storyteller does not just cover the battle scenes; he records the great political speeches of Pericles, leader of Athens, and Lysander leader of Sparta with great acumen. He is recognized as the first historian to actually go and get eyewitness accounts, visit battlefieilds and research documents and records. This work took him over 20 years and it shows!

The lessons he teaches about imperial over reaching and unreasonable peace settlements are prescient today as they were during his times. President Woodrow Wilson, read this book on his voyage across the Atlantic to the Versailles Peace Conference and vociferously fought the other Allies in making unreasonable demands of the Germans. Wilson learned the dangers that the world would be placed in by backing the Germans into a corner politically and economically from Thucydides book.

I never before recommended reading an abridged work of history; however, Paul Woodruff does the best job of abridging Thucydides that I have ever come across in historical texts. He gives you the basic narrative and makes sure to include all of the important orations and debates from the original work.

As a graduate student in philosophy and history, I heartily recommend this timeless classic to anyone who is interested in political philosophy, and history. I also recommend you read it with David Cartwright's "A Historical Commentary On Thucydides."

I can't think of another abridgment of a classic more after my own heart. I am a passionate believer in reading all of Thucydides, but this book is still the ideal way to get to know what is great about the historian. (And, as our democracy is at war & struggles with imperial entanglements, Thuc. is more relevant than ever.)

Basically, Woodruff has an unerring instinct for where Thucydides (not a mere fact-compiler, but one of antiquity's great thinkers) is at his sizzling & profound best. The introduction is a marvelous piece of criticism and analysis: in merely 24 pp. it acquaints the reader with Thucydides' important ideas. The idea of this book is to give you 185 pp. to read cover-to-cover (if not in a single sitting!--what are you waiting for?--do it, and blow your mind). Woodruff's connecting summaries & brief introductory comments to each excerpt make sure that readers will experience the whole coherently.

My one quibble is that I'd like to have the defeat of the Sicilian Expedition & its aftermath in all its gruesome detail, but this would have almost doubled the size of the book and defeated the purposes I've praised above. For a complete translation, try Lattimore (also pub. by Hackett)--or, if 17th c. English doesn't bother you, Hobbes' translation is a real treat to savor.

I agree with the first reviewer: this book is a great condensation of Thucydides' work. The book is editted to retain all of Thucydides' great insights into human nature, power, and politics, but summarized in a way where all of the essential details of the story are left in place.

With its sweeping description of events in various areas of the Greece, and its dramatic portrayal of historic figures: the book works as a great description of the nature of politics, democracy and war, and at the same time an engaging study of leadership, and the men who were perported to be great during these times.

Daniel Clausen
danielclausen.com

I am Byzantine history buff, and after looking through this set in a college library, I decided to get it for myself. I plan eventually to read most of it. A feature I like is the inclusion of brief histories of important cities of the empire and also of provinces. So, for example, there are entries on Bari and Sardinia. The careers of important personages are also outlined, not just emperors. I expect to learn a lot from the articles on special topics, some of which are indicated in the editorial review. The maps are clear and not overloaded with detail, but I would have liked a map of the empire around 700 to be included, instead of skipping from 565 to 1025. But that's a minor quibble. I expect to be using this book for years to come, so it should be well worth the money.

This is a great reference for the thousand years of Byzantine history, covering everything from Amulets to Zoe. It is really helpful in starting any research paper, and is also great just to look things up in that you find of interest.

This three volume set is just what every Orthodox seminarian needs on his bookshelf! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it offered recently for such a low price. A+++**