Publisher's Synopsis
The Essential Herodotus breathes new life into the writings of the West's first historian, interleaving succinct commentary and notes with balanced selections of Herodotus's work. William A. Johnson's clear and lively translations lead the reader through complex materials, making the text accessible in all its richness. The Essential Herodotus is the first of its kind, offering Herodotus's well-known writings on politics and war alongside his research on folk tradition, foreign cultures, and natural wonders. For first-time Herodotus readers and historians alike, William A. Johnson's The Essential Herodotus reminds a 21st-century audience why these texts have stood the test of time.
