The History of the Peloponnesian War - by Thucydides

About the Book

"A definitive new translation of Thucydides' The History of the Peloponnesian War"--

Book Synopsis

A definitive and refreshingly readable new translation of Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War, paired with a brilliant introduction on how to read and understand Thucydides

Thucydides called his work a "possession for all time," and his History of the Peloponnesian War has been essential reading for generals and politicians for centuries.

Robin Waterfield's translation of Thucydides's sweeping narrative vividly depicts the events of the war between Athens and Sparta that began in 431 BCE and would continue until 404, a conflict that embroiled not only mainland Greece but Greek states from the eastern Mediterranean and as far west as Italy and Sicily. The only extant contemporary narrative of this conflict, Thucydides's History brims with military, moral, and political reflections, offering critical commentary on challenges that still dominate our world today, from the strife of civil war to the devastation of widespread plague to the nature of political power.

Thucydides died before completing the account--it ends in 410--but his legacy is timeless. One of the great masterpieces of classical Greece, The History of the Peloponnesian War offers an incisive and timely window into the conflicts of the past.

Review Quotes

"Clear and considered.... Mr. Waterfield advances a sound and coherent interpretation of Thucydides' complex style and ideas. In particular, he sharpens our image of the Hobbesian Thucydides, who founded the realist theory of international relations."--Wall Street Journal

"The History of the Peloponnesian War isn't easy reading; it demands patience and close attention... Nonetheless, Waterfield... manages to produce lucid, straightforward English prose, with an occasional modern flourish."--Washington Post

"Waterfield is an excellent Hellenist, an accomplished translator, and a fine writer. He is to be congratulated on having produced a fluent and readable translation....Waterfield has produced a Thucydides for today's readers....This book will help bring readers back to the classics, and few achievements by an author can be greater than that."--Barry Strauss, Washington Free Beacon

​"Thucydides of Athens...is a dominating author like few others. Is he a historian, or philosopher, or social scientist? The truest answer is easily all three at once. Robin Waterfield's translation of a bold and powerful writer brimming with creative ideas on matters of language and politics is crisp, readable, and true to the author's diction. Polly Low's introduction is accessible and expansive without being pedantic. Famous debates on choosing war (Athens vs. Sparta), the use and abuse of power (Athenian imperial aggressions vs. Mytilene and Melos), and descriptions of wartime suffering (Pericles's iconic funeral speech) reveal issues of war and peace, justice and law, relevant to any time. Thucydides is a writer for the ages: Waterfield and Low, his interpreters today."--Lawrence A. Tritle, Loyola Marymount University

"A magnificent achievement, making ancient history live in a vernacular for our time."--Kirkus (starred)

"Waterfield's elegant, modern translation of Thucydides will serve both scholars and general readers exceptionally well, while Low's introduction and notes offer just the right amount of context and explanation, illuminating the text rather than weighing it down. In their hands Thucydides' great work shows the same 'bloom of perpetual newness' that Plutarch once saw in the Parthenon."--Johanna Hanink, Brown University

Christopher Pelling, Professor of Greek Emeritus, University of Oxford

Paul Cartledge, author of Democracy: A Life

About the Author

Robin Waterfield is a British classical scholar, translator, and editor, specializing in ancient Greek philosophy and history. Among others, his translations include Plato's Republic, Herodotus's The Histories, Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, and Aesop's Fables. He lives in Greece.