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The Histories Audiobook
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Publisher Description
Herodotus is not only the father of the art and the science of historical writing but also one of the Western tradition’s most compelling storytellers. His Histories is regarded as one of the seminal works of history in Western literature. He wrote these accounts of the fifth-century-BC wars between the Greeks and Persians with a continuous awareness of the mythic and the wonderful, while laying bare the intricate human entanglements at their core. This volume is one of the first accounts of the rise of the Persian Empire and serves as a record of the ancient traditions and politics of the time.
In the instinctive empiricism that took him searching over much of the known world for information, in the care he took with sources and historical evidence, in his freedom from intolerance and prejudice, Herodotus virtually defined the rational, humane spirit that is the enduring legacy of Greek civilization.
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"I was really impressed by the "The Histories." Herodotus admits many are just stories; but gives the most accurate cultural stories of the peoples of the ancient world. Interesting how ancient Isreal is not meantoned at all :). Its hard to get any real pre-Abrahamic/Christian histories. It is a long book. I would recomend researching and printing out a map of the ancient world. I would look at the map so you know what civilization he is talking about; because most of the names are different. I wish i had done that from the start. I really appreciate the ancient writers, they are usally very humble and admit what they don't know. It was a very open minded civilization. I was impressed!"
— dan (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Herodotus gives more sheer pleasure than almost any other writer.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Herodotus emerges in all his charm and complexity as a writer and the first historian in the Western tradition, perhaps unique in the way he has seen the interrelation of fact and fantasy...Herodotus crowds his fresco-like pages with all shades of humanity. Whether Herodotus’ view is ‘tragic,’ mythical, or merely common sense, it provided him with a moral salt with which the diversity of mankind could be savored.”
— Christian Science Monitor -
“Renowned in his own time for his humanity and wide-ranging curiosity, Herodotus shows an insatiable appetite for both useful information and a good yarn, and The History is a starting point for any student of the past.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review
The Histories Listener Reviews
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John, 4/8/2022
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" First of all, I have to say that this just isn't my thing. Not only did I dislike the subject matter, but Herodotus was all over the place. It was very difficult to follow the story line. I am reading this in order to help my kids with their school work. Otherwise, I wouldn't have finished it. "
— Lucy, 2/17/2014 -
" For any history buff, this book is quite simply unable to be commented on. It simply must be read. "
— Chad, 2/15/2014 -
" I have only read Book I as of now. "
— Priscilla, 2/14/2014 -
" Herodotus was an A+ storyteller, but to call this "history" is gratuitous. A lot of it is outright lie. "
— Richard, 1/31/2014 -
" Still one of the great histories, with so much detail about people and places as well as inspiring (or depressing) events of the Persian Wars and what lead up to them. "
— Sally, 1/13/2014 -
" read this a couple times, both in the '80's and the '90's. Father of History, Father of Lies, like he says, not his fault. "
— Ned, 1/11/2014 -
" I read chapters 7 and 8 concerning the battle for Thermopylae for a class. I look forward to reading it in its entirety in future classes... "
— Michael, 12/23/2013 -
" I loved this look into the world of 400BC. How beautiful Egypt used to be. Also, I anticipate that one day, all of the modern historians who wave off his accounts of the size and exploits of the army of Cyrus, will find out how accurate he actually is. "
— Peter, 12/19/2013 -
" Some great storytelling. The programe may stretch from Mongolia to the Congo and is remarkably reliable (considering). How much we've lost in cultural diversity. Be sure to keep Wikipedia close at hand, and count on 2 hours research for every hour reading. "
— Frank, 12/17/2013 -
" Amazing detail of cultures long gone by the way of the wind. "
— Karsten, 12/16/2013
About Herodotus
Herodotus (c. 484–425 BC) was a Greek historian. Known as the “father of history,” he was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent, and arrange them in a well-constructed and vivid narrative. The Histories, his masterpiece and the only work he is known to have produced, is a record of his investigation of the origins of the Greco-Persian Wars, which includes a wealth of geographical and ethnographical information.
About Bernard Mayes
Bernard Mayes is a teacher, administrator, corporate executive, broadcaster, actor, dramatist, and former international commentator on US culture. He is best known for his readings of historical classics.