---
product_id: 52032135
title: "The Histories (Penguin Classics)"
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---

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## Description

Buy The Histories (Penguin Classics) by Herodotus, John M. Marincola, Aubrey de Sélincourt (ISBN: 8601300102375) from desertcart's Book Store. Free UK delivery on eligible orders.

Review: Unmissable, eminently readable classic - 'After the capture of Babylon, Darius invaded Scythia.' Thus commences book four of the Histories, and if these are the kind of words that set your pulse racing, your eyes going all dreamy, this book is for you. The ancient Greek historian's famous opus has an impressive geographical and chronological spread, and this, together with its precedence over most recovered documents of its type, explains why it is regarded as so important. Herodotus relates over a century of Persian expansion, including the Egyptian and other conquests, from about 600 BC, and of Persian conflict with the Greeks, culminating in his compatriots' victories at Salamis and Platea. As it is explained in the notes and introduction, much of his account has been reaffirmed by modern historical and archaeological research, some of it over earlier condemnations, though much is also being questioned. Indeed, intriguingly, this rings both as history as we understand it and as something else. Herodotus explicitly aims to make an objective and truthful account, unlike other chroniclers of antiquity (for example Egyptian) driven by religious, political or artistic imperatives. He traces facts to sources and steps back when sources conflict. This is familiar. But in other ways, his book is from a culture very distant from ours. Herodotus believes in oracles, in the premonitory value of dreams. It doesn't shock him that a queen might give birth to a lion, or a god strike down an army to protect a sanctuary. Hubris is always punished, and disregard for the warnings of fate, or the desecration of temples. And descriptions are inflated for effect. For example, Herodotus has five million Persian subjects crossing the Hellespont; this probably exceeded the adult male population of the Persian empire, and modern historians have the number at 100,000 to 200,000. Thus, in many ways, the Histories are myth, epic, as much as history, and they probably tell us as much about the ancient Greeks and their beliefs as about what happened in the Persian wars.
Review: Brings the Ancient World to life - Although writing 2500 years ago Herodotus sure knows how to tell a story and I found I couldn't put his history of the 5th century BC Persian Empire down. "The Histories" describes Persian imperial military campaigns against Babylon and Egypt, but above all against Greece. The historical accounts are broken up with legends and fascinating descriptive details of individuals, peoples, armies, counties and cities. In his lengthy build up to the battles of Salamis and Plataea which ended the Persian threat to Greece Herodotus brings to life ancient kings, generals and politicians. Men and women who otherwise are just names from ancient history come to life in their ruthlessness, scheming, greed, courage and cowardice. Herodotus builds up the tension as expertly as a modern novelist. I could tangibly feel the mounting fear as the Persian invaders slowly work their way down Greece toward Athens, while the Greeks desperately seek help across the Mediterranean and individual city-states panic and struggle with whether to risk supporting their fellow Greeks or capitulate with the Persians. Brilliant!

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN  | 0140449086 |
| Best Sellers Rank | 65,626 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 1,189 in Poetry & Drama Criticism |
| Customer reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,038) |
| Dimensions  | 19.74 x 12.9 x 3.48 cm |
| Edition  | Reissue |
| ISBN-10  | 9780140449082 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0140449082 |
| Item weight  | 522 g |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 784 pages |
| Publication date  | 1 Jan. 2003 |
| Publisher  | Penguin Classics |

## Images

![The Histories (Penguin Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91IkrDcou3L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unmissable, eminently readable classic
*by R***1 on 9 June 2008*

'After the capture of Babylon, Darius invaded Scythia.' Thus commences book four of the Histories, and if these are the kind of words that set your pulse racing, your eyes going all dreamy, this book is for you. The ancient Greek historian's famous opus has an impressive geographical and chronological spread, and this, together with its precedence over most recovered documents of its type, explains why it is regarded as so important. Herodotus relates over a century of Persian expansion, including the Egyptian and other conquests, from about 600 BC, and of Persian conflict with the Greeks, culminating in his compatriots' victories at Salamis and Platea. As it is explained in the notes and introduction, much of his account has been reaffirmed by modern historical and archaeological research, some of it over earlier condemnations, though much is also being questioned. Indeed, intriguingly, this rings both as history as we understand it and as something else. Herodotus explicitly aims to make an objective and truthful account, unlike other chroniclers of antiquity (for example Egyptian) driven by religious, political or artistic imperatives. He traces facts to sources and steps back when sources conflict. This is familiar. But in other ways, his book is from a culture very distant from ours. Herodotus believes in oracles, in the premonitory value of dreams. It doesn't shock him that a queen might give birth to a lion, or a god strike down an army to protect a sanctuary. Hubris is always punished, and disregard for the warnings of fate, or the desecration of temples. And descriptions are inflated for effect. For example, Herodotus has five million Persian subjects crossing the Hellespont; this probably exceeded the adult male population of the Persian empire, and modern historians have the number at 100,000 to 200,000. Thus, in many ways, the Histories are myth, epic, as much as history, and they probably tell us as much about the ancient Greeks and their beliefs as about what happened in the Persian wars.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brings the Ancient World to life
*by R***R on 6 April 2021*

Although writing 2500 years ago Herodotus sure knows how to tell a story and I found I couldn't put his history of the 5th century BC Persian Empire down. "The Histories" describes Persian imperial military campaigns against Babylon and Egypt, but above all against Greece. The historical accounts are broken up with legends and fascinating descriptive details of individuals, peoples, armies, counties and cities. In his lengthy build up to the battles of Salamis and Plataea which ended the Persian threat to Greece Herodotus brings to life ancient kings, generals and politicians. Men and women who otherwise are just names from ancient history come to life in their ruthlessness, scheming, greed, courage and cowardice. Herodotus builds up the tension as expertly as a modern novelist. I could tangibly feel the mounting fear as the Persian invaders slowly work their way down Greece toward Athens, while the Greeks desperately seek help across the Mediterranean and individual city-states panic and struggle with whether to risk supporting their fellow Greeks or capitulate with the Persians. Brilliant!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Have started readig this amazing book. Never thought history
*by M***S on 2 November 2014*

Have started readig this amazing book. Never thought history, so many centuries before B.C. could be so fascinating and in many ways comparable to what is happening today, globally. Will have many hours of enjoyment. Thanks.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Histories
- History of the Peloponnesian War
- On Sparta (Penguin Classics)

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*Last updated: 2026-02-11*