Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book VII

Edition of the latter part of Thucydides' account of the Sicilian Expedition that ended so catastrophically for Athens (415-413 BCE).

Christopher Pelling (Edited by)

9781316630228, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 6 January 2022

306 pages
21.6 x 13.8 x 1.6 cm, 0.38 kg

'The Introductions serve as warm and erudite welcomes into a text often represented as cold and formidable … The commentaries are extremely rich … Pelling's volumes facilitate greater access to Thucydides, while his insightful readings demonstrate the way that Thucydides' authorial choices leave the reader with a sense of the tragedy of the Peloponnesian War.' Rachel Bruzzone, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

In Books 6 and 7 Thucydides' narrative is, as Plutarch puts it, 'at its most emotional, vivid, and varied' as he describes the Sicilian Expedition that ended so catastrophically for Athens (415–413 BCE). Book 7 opens with Athens seemingly on the point of victory, but the arrival of the Spartan commander Gylippus marks a change in fortunes and the Athenian commander Nicias is soon sending home a desperate plea for reinforcements. Three narrative masterpieces follow their arrival, first the eerie confusion of the night battle on the heights, then the naval clash in the Great Harbour, and finally the desperate attempt to escape and the slaughter at the river Assinarus. Following the sister commentary on Book 6, the Commentary offers students considerable help understanding the Greek while the Introduction discusses Thucydides' narrative skill and the part these books play in the architecture of the history.

Introduction
Deviations from Alberti
Sigla
THUCYDIDES: THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR BOOK VII
Commentary
Bibliography
Indexes.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Historiography [HBAH], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], Translation & interpretation [CFP]