by Herodotus
First published 2003
Herodotus sets out to discover why Greeks and Persians went to war. He travels across the known world, collecting stories from witnesses and examining records of past events. In Egypt, he learns about ancient customs and marvels at the pyramids. In Babylon, he records strange rituals and mighty walls. He traces the rise of Persian power under Cyrus and Darius, then follows the Greek city-states as they prepare for invasion. Herodotus questions everyone he meets about what they saw and heard during the great battles at Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis. He weighs different versions of the same events, deciding which accounts seem most believable. The historian reveals how personal grudges between rulers sparked a conflict that engulfed entire civilizations. Through his careful investigation, Herodotus shows that this war changed both Greek and Persian worlds forever. His search for truth becomes a journey through human nature itself.
Genres: history, historical, ancient, ancient-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, investigative-journalism
Setting: Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Persia
Period: Ancient
784 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books