Greece Books

This is the only Frank Yerby I've ever read. I first read Goat Song in 1973, & recently found it at a yard sale & figured I'd see if it had held up. I was very happy to see that this has stood the test of time, and since far more is now known about the ancient Greeks and their neighbors than there was in the '70's, I think I may have enjoyed this even more than 35 years ago. My best friend is a Mists Of Avalon series junkie, & I'm looking forward to her reading this. This would really be an great movie, just without a Steve Reeves or other talentless Hollywood Hunk-Ra as Ariston.

I read this book when I was a teenager & instantly identified with the hero & the characters. The characterisation of the Spartan & Athenian lifestyles is excellent and the intermingling of historical figures such as Socrates, Plato, Euripides, Alcibiades, Demosthenes etc is superb. This book alone forms a significant portion of my knowledge of ancient Greece. If you enjoyed the movie "300" then you should read this book. Even if you didn't enjoy the movie "300" still read this book. It is a tragedy that the author Frank Yerby did not achieve the acclaim he deserved for his novels as this definitely ranks among the best I have ever read. I am greatly surprised that he was an African American and disappointed that his great talent went virtually unheralded by the "critics". Read this book. You will not be disappointed.

Frank Yerby's 'Goat Song' is a book I would describe as 'almost perfect'. Not since Mary Renault's 'Last of the Wine' have I encountered such a complete telling of the life of a man in Ancient Greece.

Born to a Spartan General and his beautiful wife; who maintains that her son was truly sired by the God Dionysus, Ariston discovers his true parentage, and his first love, only to lose them to cruel fates.

Surviving these loses, Ariston is then sold into slavery, taken to Athens, and given over to a brothel to have his 'favors' sold time and again. Here in his life he develops a deep, loving friendship with Orchomenus; who remains a constant figure in his life for many years to come. Ariston and Orchomenus' friendship is reminiscent of many others that I have read of from the time period; in terms of the depth of the love between two men, and how once their lives were tied together by their great affection for one another, the bond was difficult, if not impossible, to break.

Once Ariston is freed from his service to the brothel,and adopted by a wealthy figure in Athens; his life takes a more favorable turn. Ariston; through virture of his unparallelled looks or kindly nature, draws many friends and loves to him. Danaeus; Autolykos; Chryseius; all people who will play important roles in his life.

But Ariston; too haunted by the loss of his first love, finds himself unable to return their affections fully. Though he takes Chryseius into his home and bed, his is not free to marry her; under Athenian law, as he is a 'metic', or free citizen, but not of birth, to the city of his residence. Therefore he builds his life as a businessman, philanthropist, athlete, and student in Athens, all the while hoping for eventual citizenship to fulfill his promise to Chryseius and one day marry her.

The book is sweeping in its scope; and epic in it's storytelling capability. The first few chapters virtually turned me away, as the tone and 'repetition' of Ariston losing his first love, Phryne, were tedius to say the least. The discovery of girls in general to him, as well as Phryne herself entering his life, seem contrived, as if they were hastily added to give Ariston a foundation for the 'loner' quality he maintains throughout most of the rest of his life.

However, once through these few almost unpalpable chapters, the story unfolds; page after page, without ever slowing. Yerby's pacing is excellent; his character development full and believable; and his painstaking attention to the everyday detail of life in Athens and Sparta in classical times is rich and rewarding to read. Ariston's own character and character flaws are well played out against the backdrop of the supporting and secondary players to the story. And while the 500 page novel is full of well-developed, interesting persons, Yerby never loses sight of his protagonist, even against such famed historical figures as Sokrates, Sophokles, Alkibiades, etc, etc, etc.....each of these persons influences Ariston, but never overshadows him.

For that I give Yerby 5 stars, and label the book as almost perfect. Although a bit difficult to involve myself in it initially, I was greatly rewarded for my tenacity. Hopefully other readers will agree. I highly recommend this story along with my other favorites written about the time period; Mary Renault, Homer himself, and newer author Steven Pressfield. Though Yerby leans more toward Renault in overall tone, his style and quality of storytelling are all his own.

This book was stunning, harsh, real, and violent as well as beautiful, romantic, and poignant. The story of a man's life is always complex, but Yerby demonstrates that so wonderfully in this classic. I can't believe that this book isn't more popular. Goat Song literally took my breath away and the characters lingered with me long after I closed this book. I would highly recommend this epic tale to everyone.

The story of a young man that suffers all kind of pains in his life and remains incorruptible in his mind, with capacity of loving and learning. Yerby makes a unforgetable story of the life of young Ariston with a master style. I have read a lot of Yerby's novels, but this one is on the top, in my opinion. Iam very sad to tell you that this book was stolen from my house almost ten years ago and that it has been imposibble for me to find it again. If you have the fortune to get it, read it and take care of it.

I recommend The Greek Treasure because it illustrates all of Schliemann's flaws, while allowing us to sympathize with him as a human being. It is the only book I've read which tells his side of the story. People tend to forget that he expended enormous amounts of time and money to begin his excavations, only to face governments and armchair academics who schemed to steal the credit, as well as the means for him to recover his expenses. Yes, by today's standards, he was not the ideal archaeologist; but neither were the other archaeologists of his age. And you can bet their envy at the time still haunts us today. His modern critics simply perpetuate their cynicism. But I believe the truth is less harsh. The tools of his age were crude. Hundreds of locals were brought in for manual labor, and often stole what they found. No one had worked at the scale he did before. No one had proved it could be worthwhile. So in the final analysis, I think we must be grateful to him, for his vision, and his audacity. This book shows us both.

I read this book many, many years ago. It was actually the first Irving Stone book I ever read. I still remember how much I enjoyed reading it, and I can still remember the story. Brilliantly written. You seem to be living among the characters. Irving Stone has the gift to write, all based in real-life facts. Again, a must read for any history-novel lover.

Approximately 15 years ago I bought this book aout Heinrich Schlieman, and his discovery of the ancient lost city of Troy. He studied Homer, and believed the city did exist. In his late 40's he met a very young Greek girl in Athens. He asked her father for her hand in marriage, and her father agreed.The museum in Athens holds not only the treasures he unearthed at Troy, but he found the mask of Agamemnon, and other treasures (the Lion's Gate) showering Sophia with these treasures. I loaned this book, and never received it back. I have looked for it for years. I cannot believe this wonderful book has not been reprinted and available. It is Irving Stone at his best.

"and replied: 'Hector, you must be mad to talk to me about a pact. Lions do not come to terms with men, nor does the wolf see eye to eye with the lamb-they are ENEMIES TO THE END. It is the same with you and me. Friendship between us is impossible, and there will be no truce of any kind till one of us has fallen and glutted the stubborn god of battles with his blood. So summon any courage you may have.

THIS is the time to show your spearmanship and daring."-From Homer's Iliad

Henry Schliemann, like Alexander the Great, knew the Iliad by heart, the ancient story of the Trojan War immortalized by Homer. He was convinced he knew he could find the city thus proving its historicity. The Greek academics didn't believe him, he didn't believe them. To find Troy was his dream of a lifetime. He manages to marry a young Greek girl, 20 years or so younger than himself, and soon thereafter, their lifetime of digging begins.

I loved this book. In reading this historical novel of Irving Stone, you'll learn a little about modern (1900) and ancient Greek culture. I remember getting a little bored reading the last half of it, but digs are usually that way most times until you unearth something spectacular. The most interesting point to me was in a note of Stone's at the end, explaining that the treasure of Priam, kept in the Berlin Museum, disappeared somehow when the Russians marched toward Berlin late in WWII. Hmm.

Schliemann's story is fascinating and deserves to be read! Stone weaves this historical novel with great respect and honesty, recounting the brilliance and flaws of this heroic man. This is an excellent book with an in-depth look at Greek culture coinciding with the life of a self-made millionaire and self-educated archeologist & linguist. Schliemann literally changed the way we look at Greek history in the face of almost impossible opposition!

Reviewed by David Lundberg, author of Olympic Wandering: Time Travel Through Greece

This book is a wonderful help if you are planning on traveling to NYC. It breaks the city up into sections and has large detailed fold out maps of each section. It also has a subway map that can be a help; although it is not up to date I still found myslf using it to find subway stations and general information. Although if you are in NYC you should grab a subway/bus map right away and just use this as a backup.
The maps are on thick paper and easy to write on as well.

Best travel guide bar none. Fits your pocket or small purse.. Visually great looking. There are actual pictures .... All high recommended hotels different prices..Great maps.. hard to get lost . Great recommends for food I am a shopper.. Absolutely great & unusual shops ..None of the bad tourist gear only the styling gear.. .I am familiar w/ New York but I still use this guide. This is the one I get around with...I do not go anywhere without this guide if there is one available for the destination Im will be traveling to....

This is the most ergonomically designed useful city guide I've seen.
100 percent portable, no batteries, internet connection and user friendly.

I went to New York for the first time for two weeks. This map is great. It's small, easy to carry, and easy to read. You won't feel so obvious if you have to pull it out on the street corner or on the subway. It was so much better than the full size map that I got from the hotel. Beware, it only covers Manhattan. So if you have to travel to the outer boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Queens) you'll need a different map. However, since all the siteseeing, shopping, and eating I wanted to do was located in Manhattan, it was the only map I needed.

The first time I went to New York, my mom bought this for our trip. It's been a life saver since. The maps are very detailed but small enough to carry with you without looking obnoxious. The subway map is detailed as well and when you use them with your sectioned maps, it completes the whole picture. This is a must have especially for first time visitors as the maps are very easy to read. I'm going on my third trip in two months and had to pick up another copy of this, as I can't seem to find my older one. I couldn't imagine a trip to NYC without it!

Take note fans of historical fiction, the genre has a new star in E.S. Kraay. Novels with an historic focus, featuring actual figures from history present a great challenge for authors. Can the writer capture the flavors of the period without turning the story into a text book full of dry facts which overwhelm the story? A delicate balance must be struck to tell the tale and create the proper backdrop to honor the actual climate of the characters and their culture.

E.S. Kraay succeeds in this because he is an exceptional story teller. It is obvious that he is an outstanding historian, painting an extraordinary picture of ancient Hellas and its people. His descriptive and poetic passages bring to life the land and people of the story in all their glory as one of the ancient cultures responsible for founding modern western civilization.

Kraay's story is narrated by the Greek poet Simonides who continually weaves stories about honor and redemption throughout the entirety of the book. These tales succeed in establishing the setting of the story, the Olympic games and the battle of Thermopylae. Kraay's stories are exceptionally well told and very entertaining. I feel a good book should be easy to read because you are drawn into it and this novel kept the pages turning for me because I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

In addition to telling a great story, this book uses events from ancient Hellas to deliver a message that still rings true to us today. There comes a time when many a person faces a challenge to seek personal glory or decide to make a sacrifice for the greater good of mankind. Honor and redemption are tools that build great civilizations. Pride and personal glory are weapons that can tear down a civilization. The Olympic champion Theagenes and the "300" Spartans demonstrate the power of choosing a hire cause than personal glory.

Our own culture in America is currently facing tough times and serious challenges. The fighting men and women of the US armed forces are facing these threats on a daily basis. While reading this book I was able to draw many conclusions about our own era and country. While this book is a tale of ancient Hellas, its message is one for all ages and this is the mark of an amazing storyteller.

E.S. Kraay is indeed a bard, historian and storyteller for the modern age. As a huge fan of historical fiction, I truly feel a new star has arrived. If you choose to read this book, I promise you are in store for a great read.

Having written tales set in ancient Greece myself, I know how difficult it is to strike the proper feel, rhythm and tone of voice to attempt to re-create a world that is, on the one hand, vanished and, on the other, totally present and inhering in our modern, Western sphere. If you get too "ancient," you lose the reader. Go too contemporary and the piece feels fake. Eugene Kraay hits exactly the right note with this tale of Theagenes, the great Olympic boxer, as told by Simonides, the poet who wrote the famous epitaph for the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. Theagenes is a tremendous character. Superhuman, larger than life, but deeply flawed, self-tormented, driven, even consumed, by inner imperatives of honor and redemption. This is very Greek (and very American) and "The Olympian" makes you feel it in your bones. It's a quest story. Theagenes starts out seeking one form of redemption, a bout with the great Spartan champion Lampis, and in the end finds another form that is unexpected, far deeper and rings absolutely true. I confess I was skeptical picking this book up because a friend had told me what its ambitions were. But it hooked me from the first page. I know Greece, the land and the sea, and "The Olympian" gets that right too. I felt as if I were reading an actual manuscript from those days that had somehow just been dug up from an archaeological dig. Eugene Kraay is a born storyteller. His tale zigs and zags and never loses a jot of momentum. He gets you "on the road" with his characters and you feel you're right there with them. The scenes at Olympia are tremendous sportswriting, if such a phrase can be applied. By the time the story reaches Thermopylae, to which Theagenes and Simonides have trekked because Lampis has gone there with his fellow Spartans to help defend the pass against Xerxes and the invading Persian multitudes, you are living every second with them. I won't spoil the ending. Suffice it to say, no one has ever hit Thermopylae from this angle and it is powerful, effecting and unforgettable. One final thought. There are many writers who can write a great sentence or a great paragraph or a great chapter, but very few can conceive a story from start to finish, make it unique, and have it hang together all the way through, so that when you've reached the climax, you can look back as a reader at everything that came before and see how nothing was superfluous and everything has borne you skillfully to the pleasure of the finish. Eugene Kraay does that with absolute ease and assurance in this, his first book. I can't wait to see what he'll do next!

I heard an interview with the author here in New York City, and he struck me as the type of guy I'd like to have a beer with. Greek history seems like a hobby for him, but one that he has mastered. That's why I bought the book.

I'm into epic stories about heroes rising to the occassion, saving the day by making the ultimate sacrifice. While this story really does touch on all of the manly things that I typically enjoy in books and movies alike, it really gets down to a deeper matter, which is what I hope people really take from this book. The story, like others have said, is captivating and this is indeed an "easy read," but the underlying message beneath it all is one that isn't reflected upon often enough in today's society: A man's true worth is not found in what he does for himself. It's a very profound message and the author was very cheeky in making that point clear, all the while telling a gripping story.

Two points I would like to make about the content of the story:
1. The scene at Thermopylae will choke the reader up. In that moment, you are watching these Spartans get slaughtered, and there's nothing you can do about it. In a time when terrorism steals the headlines, it will likely make you think of some modern day events (ie 9/11, Madrid, etc).
2. The way the characters speak, their language, is different from what I expected. It's almost as if you really are being told the story in the tongue of the ancient greeks.

Very good stuff.

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.

The Peloponnesian War, along with the myriad feuds that latched on to the central conflict between Sparta and Athens in the latter half of the fifth century BCE, can be an exhausting subject. The civil and international politics involved in fostering and perpetuating the war rival even today's most complex conflicts.

In this, the first of four volumes on the subject, Kagan skillfully presents, comments on, and refutes the hypotheses presented by history and historians, while still managing a very approachable narrative.

For the historian, or avid history buff (however you might self-identify), these works are a necessary addition to your library. The more casual reader might, however, consider purchasing Kagan's abridged work entitled simply "The Peloponnesian War." It includes the main thrust of the narrative, but with markedly less analysis of the political motivations included in these volumes.

It is difficult for me to describe the genius that lies behind Kagan's magisterial four-volume history of the Peloponnesian War. Kagan's command of his subject matter is breath taking. But the reason that you want this to be THE book you read about the Peloponnesian War is as follows:

Kagan provides the single most compelling synthesis of the reasons the war took place together with a beautifully measured study of the participant's motivations. His technique is brilliant. First the bare facts are set out. Then Thucydides opinions are canvassed. There follows a startlingly lucid summary of the major points of view as published by other historians. Then Kagan offers HIS view. At the conclusion you slap yourself on the knee and find yourself invariably saying, "Well, of COURSE, it's OBVIOUS".

But, in point of fact, it isn't obvious at all - but Kagan makes it SEEM obvious. And for that he required, and exhibits, a truly astounding understanding of human nature.

I have seen it written that Kagan lapses into un-translated Latin, Greek and German. I went back to my copies to see if I could find examples of this - and was unable to find more than a handful (if one doesn't count the footnotes - and even there foreign languages are scarce).

Kagan's principal thesis in this, the first of the four books, is that the Peloponnesian war was NOT, contrary to Thucydides' opinion, inevitable, but was in fact avoidable up to the last moment. This thesis is developed with tremendous force of logic. The prose is fluid, and even limpid.

You will need maps. The first volume contains none. Though the second volume has a few. My suggestion is that you have the Landmark Thucydides to hand - it has seemingly THOUSANDS of maps. But I also recommend the "Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World" -- a MUST for any person with a classical bent. I am not sure one needs to have read Thucydides - as some have suggested. After all, Kagan's object is to write THE comprehensive history of that event. But this clearly is a university level text. I read the Landmark Thucydides first - though I am not sure I benefited from it. You will certainly want to read it afterwards.

Kagan's understanding of this ancient conflict prepared him very nicely for an extraordinary book, "On the Origins of War and the Preservations of Peace." If ever there was a MUST READ book for our times, it is that one. In this book, Kagan develops a thesis on the origins of war and provides a trenchant recipe for the avoidance of war.

I rate this book on a par with Ronald Syme's "Roman Revolution" (Though HERE is someone guilty of not bothering to translate greek and latin for we plebs!). You need read NO other modern account.

If you have any interest in ancient history, do yourself a favor and read all four volumes of Kagan's four volume treatise on the Peloponessian War. This is history at its finest. His writing style gracefully combines detailed historical analysis with his own ideas on what the historical record leaves for our speculation. All of this in what reads like a narrative history. Having a copy of Thucydides handy will only add to the experience. Kagan's one volume version is good, but reading the four volume series takes it to a level that any serious fan of ancient history will enjoy. Definitely worth the investment of time and money.

Athens and Sparta's relations peaked during the Persian wars; thereafter, as their respective trading empires filled the vacuum left by Persia's retreat, these two city-states became involved in a bipolar power struggle, of a kind which (as Kagan relates) has since repeated itself numerous times in history. Kagan has a truly inspired ability to draw factually apposite parallels between different periods, and in this account, as rival nations spiral towards a cataclysmic conflict, one can't help thinking of pre-WW1 Europe and/or the post-WW2 Cold War. If the Sparta-Athens relationship was truly bipolar, however, peace might have prevailed: the real trigger, or at least catalyst, to war was the provocation of the intermeddling third party, Corinth. Kagan not only relates the Thucydidian chronology, he also interposes his own corrections and clarifications and, in the process, brings this tragic war to life for the modern reader.

This book, and the other three in the series, are for serious readers only. But presumably you know that, if you're reading this. You'll need to read Thucydides first, at least once; it wouldn't hurt to read Xenophon's Hellenica as well, not to mention all the extant plays of Aristophanes. Oh, and maybe a history or two on the Greco-Persian Wars.

If you can do/have done all that, then these four volumes are a rare treat. I think Kagan is very clever. He writes sober, judicious history, but he does it in a very amiable, companionable way. You get the sense that one of your favorite professors from your college days has dropped by to tell you a little story, one of those "little stories" that expands and expands until you lose track of time and place, drawn into his web. I think Kagan wrote these books that way deliberately, with an eye toward a wider audience than the usual scholarly tome. Perhaps that engenders some snickering or sneering among the academic types. Let them sneer. These books are nothing if not highly readable.

How does Kagan stack up as a scholar? I don't know. He certainly provides an exhaustive overview of the scholarship written up to the time these volumes were written, and he's always very clear to describe where he stands in contrast to other scholars. How those scholars view him, and what scholarship has concluded since the publication of these books, remain unknown to me. I'm a serious reader, but not *that* serious. My days of digging through scholarly journals and publications to find anything and everything on a given topic are long behind me.

It hardly matters, though. These books are of the highest value strictly for their sheer entertainment value. If they are also of the highest schloraly caliber, then so much the better. But to tell you the truth, I wouldn't care if Kagan was a baldfaced liar. I would enjoy the books all the same.

If you truly have an interest in the people of Albania there is no better book available. I have read most of the writing (in English) on Albania and this book always checks out with other sources. It is the one complete, unbiased (important in this reagion) account of the Albania people. If you are only casually interested, you will find it ponderous.

The book has it all. It should a koran or bible for every Albanian and I would urge everyone one to own a copy or at least read it. It is very carefully written and greatly researched, based on classical and contemporary sources of history, archeaology and linguistics. It is also extremely helpful in providing other research sources for related fields or works. Above all, it is true in content and as such unbiased.

The book is a classic for presenting history based on facts. Many thanks to the author for putting such a bright light on historical facts, and the effort to collect all the information pieces that exist around the world and putting them in a fascinating logical way that creates a nice picture of what have happened thousands of years before, mainly in the ballkans, particulary in today's Albania, and all over the world.

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

The author brings the science of history to a new paradigm. The book is written in an excellent way and is result of intensive and extensive experience from the author. He will keep receiving many thanks for his research and publishing work. The book confirms that History is a scientific field and not a dogmatic field. The book must be read by all. The book helps to find answers questions. Reading the book, one can crystally see that the Pelasgian language is the same as the present-day Albanian language. Moreover, it tells what brush paintings had been put on Pelasgian (Albanian) culture and language.

Being my self an Albanian,it has surpassed all my expectations.it is truly true in its content,revealing much of the truth about albania,that even albanians themselves do not know.my deepest sympathy goes to the author with this touching review of albania`s history.i think it made me prouder being an albanian then ever before.i strongly advise all albanians and friends of albania to add this rare item to their collection.

thanks again to the author....deeply gratefull.

This book was a five hour read for me, and that was perfect. I learned a good deal about Alexander the Great, but was never bored or bogged down in the minutia. The authors possess a great talent for summarizing without feeling like you're missing out on the details.

Highly recommended.

Easy to read and go thru without all the dryness of a lot of history books. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is first getting into this subject.

Two classical scholars have collaborated, using the resources of the Getty Museum of Los Angeles, to provide in a short compass a stunning presentation of the present state of knowledge of the life and times of the greatest general in the history of the world.

Full-color illustrations, with informative identifications, accompany every page. The treatment of sources is short but exemplary: the reader is informed to what extent sources disagree and who wrote them. Most impressively the archeological work of the last few decades is incorporated into the traditional story seamlessly and with great authority.

It is unfortunate that the maps are by no means adequate to convey the meaning of the text: places, provinces, battlefields are mentioned and described but absent from the rudimentary maps.

The reference value of this beautiful work of art is enough to justify its purchase.

This is a fantastic book and certain gives a valuable insite into Alexander the Great and Ancient Greece. You can tell from the level of detail within the book that the authors have tried to give the read as much information about Alexander and his life as one of the worlds greatest conquers.

A must read!!

I'm an Alexander buff and have read over two dozen books about this stupendous historic figure and one of the most fascinating and remarkable men who has ever lived. If I had to choose just one book to recommend to a novice who is interested in Alexander but doesn't want to be bogged down by mind-numbingly dry academia, this is the book. The writing is lucid, non-academic, insightful and full of anecdotes that modern readers can relate to and enjoy. The professional overall page layout with the first-rate photographs, illustrations and maps draw the reader into Alexander's world. In terms of combining easy to understand illustrations with top-notch writing, this is the definitive Alexander biography for the layman and Alexander buffs alike.

Although a great all-around book about the Macedonian king and conqueror who came to rule 90% of the known world in his time, this isn't the definitive book for the serious Alexandrian. If you want to dig really deep, there are more in-depth and scholarly writings from the likes of Robin Lane Fox, Peter Green, J.F.C. Fuller, Paul Cartledge, A.B. Bosworth, Mary Renault, N.G.L. Hammond and others. Still, this is the book I'd recommend to people who want to get started with Alexander but don't know where to begin. It's clear, easy to absorb but leaves plenty of room for the reader to be imaginative about what he or she is taking in - the true mark of a great book. Highly recommended!

A very interesting and concise history of Greece from the 18th century to the present. It includes detailed examinations of all the major turning points in Greek history in the last three hundred years; the Greek war of independence, Greece under the Nazis, the Greek Civil War and the dictatorship. All of the important passions that have overcome the Greeks are woven into the story as is the story of the destruction of the Greek peoples of Anatolia (The Pontic Greeks and Smyrna Greeks and others) as well as the ethnic-cleansing of Greeks by the Turks from places such as Adrianople, Constantinople and Rumania and Bulgaria. The conflict over Macedonia is highlighted as is the tragic story of the 100,000 strong Greek community of Egypt that was also cleansed by the Nasser regime.

A fascinating history,

Seth J. Frantzman

This is a great book for both an introduction as well as an on-going reference source on modern Greece.
Highly recommend it to students or anyone interested in learning the history of the modern state, without getting bogged down with boring details.

I enjoyed reading the book but in some parts I had difficulties to understand the context. Somehow, Clogg jumps from one subject to the other. Also, there were very difficult historical words which are especially difficult for readers whose mother tongue is not English. Admittedly, the book has not been written for foreign readers but I think that even an English native speaker has a problem to understand words like "irredentism" and "shibboleth" if he didn't study history. Another problem is the title of some chapters. He calls one chapter "The legacy of the Civil war 1950 - 1974" although the civil war in Greece was between 1944 and 1949 or so. How can he call this capter in the abovementioned way if he writes about military rule and the Cyprus conflict? He admitted in a way that Britain and the USA have contributed to the beginning of the Cyprus conflict but he doesn't write much about it. I read the book but sometimes I did not understand it, in particular the context. I wished he would have written also more about the Ottoman rule in Greece or even the beginning of the history of Greece. The book would have been thicker, indeed, but it would have given more information. Also, he should have given the book a slightly different title, for instance "A Concise History of Greece - 1770 - 1990". This would have been clearer because as a reader you think that he has written about the whole history of Greece. However, all in all it was a good book. I enjoyed it.

Now in an expanded second edition, A Concise History Of Greece by Richard Clogg (Fellow of St. Anthony's College, Oxford University, England) is a straightforward, scholarly chronicle of the modern history of Greece, ranging from the Ottoman rule of the late 1700's, to the pressures of Balkan strife and political modernization of the present day. Deftly written and carefully researched, supplemented with tables, short biographies, as well as a listing of the royal houses of Greece, A Concise History Of Greece is an excellent and scholarly survey of the modern growth of the nation which is a strongly recommended addition to academic World History collections in general, and Hellenic History supplemental reading lists in particular.

Richard Clogg is a renowned international scholar who has been writing about Greek history for decades. This work is a popularization (from footnotes deliver me) that should prove very helpful to the layman with more than a casual interest in Greece. It invites comparison with C.M. Woodhouse's also famous history, but I must declare myself incompetent to decide if one is better than the other.

Clogg's section on the Ottoman period is blessedly brief and his discussion of the Nazi occupation and Communist insurection are to-the-point yet incisive.

Perhaps the most exciting feature of the work is the great bunch of pictures gracing nearly every page and showing the days of glory in Modern Greece as well as some of the saddest. The maps are also helpful.

There are no footnotes but the selective bibliography will be useful to most readers. There is also an appendix giving thumbnail biographies of some luminaries in modern Greek history.

Edith Hamilton, known best for her anthology of ancient Greek mythology, describes brilliantly the origins of democracy and political freedom in Western civilization. Building on her vast knowledge of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, she explains the miraculous emergence and practice of these concepts in a small country, sparsely populated, and surrounded by hostile despotic civilizations from the East. Her simple but hardly superficial account of about 300 years of intellectual history helps both historians and weekend-readers to understand why these and other ideas, such as the sacred relationship between man and the divine, were so strong then and have endured for 2,500 years, despite the destruction of most of the ancient writings and the brief period of their expression, roughly 200 years, known as the Golden Age of Greece, a half century before the life of Jesus. Edith Hamilton's description of the heroic victories of Athens and other Greek city-states reads like an exciting novel and will make readers appreciate the vital yet fragile nature of our freedoms and our responsibility for practicing them as caretakers, not only beneficiaries, of a precious history.

Few writers have captured the miracle and magic that was ancient Greece as compellingly as Edith Hamilton.Classical Greece (appx 450-325BC) can safely be viewed as the crucible in which modern thought & sensibility were wrought .The "modern" values we take for granted____democracy,freedom,human dignity,resisting tyranny,free speech & the Promethean quest for knowledge___all trace their umbilical cord to that fleeting,lifegiving period in human history when Man became HUMAN for the first time .Whether it is the sublime majesty of the Parthenon or the heartrending pathos of Euripedes___humanity pervades every word & stone. Hamilton's love for classical Greece shines forth through each page of this delightful book .After a brief introduction in which she contrasts the achivements of Classical Greece with the preceding civilisations in Egypt and Babylonia ,she touches upon some of the characters in this extraordinary period____the soaring mysticism of Plato, the oratory of Demosthenes ,the scientific rigor of Aristotle,the "Academy" at Athens and a brief chapter on the poet Menander .Alexander's enigmatic character is touched upon ("he set out to Hellenise the whole world but ended up dying an oriental despot " etc) followed by chapters on the Stoics and Plutarch.Ms.Hamilton's prose itself is almost Hellenic in its simplicity ,elegance and directness.In a word___SUPERLATIVE.

I had pursued and read Ms. Hamilton's earlier volume "The Greek Way" based on an article about Bobby Kennedy, related to the 30th anniversary of his assassination. I found it thought provoking.

I purchased the "Echo of Greece" at a used book sale for $1 basically to have the companion to "The Greek Way"--both are hardcopy editions. The first chatper enthralled me as Ms. Hamilton reviewed the qualities of a dying democracy. We live in a Republic, which uses democratic principles. I could draw many parallels to Ancient Greece and the America of today. A resounding principle: When the term "freedom means freedom from responsibility" to the populus. Many Americans want their freedom, but want to be free from responsibility. We want to be free from being involved in the detailed decisions in governing a society, but not give up our freedom to complain about the "poor job" civil servants attempt to perform. One small example, but excellent thought provoking stuff.

The middle chapters focus on ideas and individuals in the final centuries before Christ. Building a context of where Greek thinking had evolved to during a 500 year period. To have dialogue as the basis of increasing their knowledge and understanding about themselves and their society. Not having a strong Western Civilization background, both of Ms. Hamilton's books were an excellent source to build my foundation upon.

The last chapter is equal in thought provocation to the first, yet in an entirely different perspective. She discusses the differences between the Greek Way and the Roman Way and how the fledging origins of the Christian church had to decide which Way to go. The Greeks were the powerhouse of thinkers and artisans. While the Romans were the powerhouse of efficincy and organization, and, of course, the military. Ms. Hamilton poses the thought as to what the world would have been like without the fear aspects of the Spanish Inquisition aspects of Christianity's history, all based on the Roman Way, had the Christian Church gone the path of the Greek Way. Of course, the concern is would Christianity survived the Roman Church, had she gone the Greek Way.

I already was aware that the new testament was written in Greek. I was not aware that the earliest teachers of Christianity were Greek. But it made sense. Christ's teachings and the Greek Way are directed towards the individual finding truth deep within themselves. The Roman Way added all of the ceremonies and group policies, making people feel inadequate to be God's servant. It is an excellent read for a person who has an open mind to learning about the roots of mankind based on written accounts and not based on myth and folklore.

Edith Hamilton did it again with the Echo of Greece. This book looks at and explains, in a colloquial manner, the rise, apex, and decline of Greece during their golden age (from the beginning of the 5th century B.C. to the end of the 4th century B.C.). After finishing this book, the reader comes away not only with a better understanding of the Greek ethos, but also with an explanation of why things happened the way that they did. It is the latter accomplishment, I think, that readers will most appreciate.

Hamilton's book is divided into 10 chapters: I. Freedom, II. Athens' Failure, III. The School of Athens, IV. The School Teachers, V. Demosthenes, VI. Alexander the Great, VII. Menander, VIII. The Stoics, IX. Plutarch, and X. The Greek Way and the Roman Way.

The organization is brilliant, and leads the reader by their hand through the intellectual and artistic accomplishments of Greece not only during her height, but as you can see from chapters VI.-X., examines her influece on the world she helped create.

There are, however, a couple of frustrating parts about Hamilton's book as well. She provides excellent quotes throughout, but never explains where the reader can find them. A typical example appears on page 157, where she states that Aristotle said "The true nature of anything is what it becomes at its highest." But in which of Aristotle's myriad books should the reader begin to look to find this quote? Sometimes, even worse, Hamilton will just say "And a Stoic said that ..." Which Stoic?

A second complaint I have is that Hamilton spends a good deal of time talking about Greece's political, philosophical, and artistic achievements, but never really delves into Greece's artistic accomplishments. If she would have done so, it would have greatly improved an already great book.

But in comparison to the strengths of this book, these complaints are minor. Overall, I highly recommend this book both to the novice and expert alike. I couldn't put it down.

Edith Hamilton was one of the greatest writers on ancient cultures of all time. This is yet another triumph for her.

I never though I'd read a cookbook, but Jeff Smith is such an engaging personality that I was almost left wanting more prose and less recipes! If you like cooking and you like history, this book will deliver on both counts.

Taking Chineese, Greek and Roman cooking influences, Smith ofTV fame brings forth an offering which resembles the James Beard books which provide not only great recipes but a running commentary on the culture which produces the food and some experience remembrances by the author.

This is fun cooking and well done. Well representative of the cuisines and done with helpful hints on each.

A workhorse for the cook willing to use it to branch out and experiement in these formative areas of food history. For openers, try Spareribs with Black Beans and Pepper Sauce, Halvah Cake or the Seafood Risotto.

My humble opinion is that Roman cooking is slighted out of the three. See Malto Mario for some great Rome recipes.

This book by Jeff Smith has to be my favorite one that he has written. This book focuses on recipes from China, Greece, and Rome. The recies in this book are flavorful, and very enjoyable. My favorite recipe in here is strangely enough Garlic, Eggs, and Pasta. There is a wide range in recipes, both in flavors and ingredients. Jeff Smith does an excellent job of paring history as well as anecdotes with all of his recipes. This should be a must add for anyone who enjoys historical cooking.

Whenever I entertain my Greek relatives, they are amazed by my flair in their native cooking. Jeff's recipes are easy to follow and make Greek cooking simple.

This is an excellent cook book! It's full of great recipes and stories by a very talented cook and writer. This one focuses on 3 major influences in the culinary world. Jeff Smith entertained us for years on his PBS program 'The Frugal Gourmet'. Not only did he teach us many savory dishes, he also educated us. Not satisfied with just cooking delicious meals for his viewers, he would give detailed history lessons about the origins of the dish and made it all a lot of fun!

This may be Mr. Smiths best cook book and it is a worthy edition to everyone's cook book library. I own and have read many, if not all of his cook books, not only for the man's knowledge of cooking, but his incredible wit! This guy was funny and I would have loved to have hung out and throw a few beers down with him.

Unfortunately, this man had some very seriously bad press released about his personal life and well..... I am not one to spread rumors.....he seemed like a great guy and sadly he died before he was able to clear his name.

R.I.P. Frugs!