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Rating: 
Summary: And oh, so Classical!
Review: In this book, the astute historical mind of Michael Grant focuses on 37 of the most pivotal and influential Greeks of the classical age. The book starts with the heroes of the Persian War (Miltiades, Themosticles, Pausanias, etc) and ends at the very border of the rise of Macedon and the beginning of the Hellenic age (Aristotle, Demosthenes). In between, Grant offers us a comprehensive look at personages who filled in all of the occupations that were of the utmost importance to the ancient Greeks. These include military leaders (Miltiades, Themostocles, Cimon, Epaminondas, Pausanias, Lysander, etc), orators / politicians (Pericles, Pindar, Dionysius I, Archytas, Demosthenes, etc), philosophers (Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), playwrights (AEschylus, Sophocles, Euripedes, Aristophanes), historians (Herodotus, Thucydides) and architects / artisians (Polygnotus, Polyclitus, Ictinus, Phidias, etc). In all of these mini-biographies, Grant maintains his usual standard of excellence in pointing out the most salient aspects of their historical importance and sundry accomplishments. Grant is spectacular in demonstrating his immense erudition and knowledge of the ancient world. One of the nice features of this books is its format: it is composed of 37 seperate essays, + a number of appendices on various topics. Therefore, you can read an essay & then let the book sit for weeks or months w/out sacrificing anything. So, that makes it a great book to have "at the ready" in places where you may need to kill some time by having a book in-hand. I would highly recommend this book for people who have an interest in ancient Greece, but do not @ present know too much about it. This book is an excellent introduction to that epoch. For the classical scholar / student, this book is an absolutely indispensable reference.
Rating:
Summary: And oh, so Classical!
Review: In this book, the astute historical mind of Michael Grant focuses on 37 of the most pivotal and influential Greeks of the classical age. The book starts with the heroes of the Persian War (Miltiades, Themosticles, Pausanias, etc) and ends at the very border of the rise of Macedon and the beginning of the Hellenic age (Aristotle, Demosthenes). In between, Grant offers us a comprehensive look at personages who filled in all of the occupations that were of the utmost importance to the ancient Greeks. These include military leaders (Miltiades, Themostocles, Cimon, Epaminondas, Pausanias, Lysander, etc), orators / politicians (Pericles, Pindar, Dionysius I, Archytas, Demosthenes, etc), philosophers (Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), playwrights (AEschylus, Sophocles, Euripedes, Aristophanes), historians (Herodotus, Thucydides) and architects / artisians (Polygnotus, Polyclitus, Ictinus, Phidias, etc). In all of these mini-biographies, Grant maintains his usual standard of excellence in pointing out the most salient aspects of their historical importance and sundry accomplishments. Grant is spectacular in demonstrating his immense erudition and knowledge of the ancient world. One of the nice features of this books is its format: it is composed of 37 seperate essays, + a number of appendices on various topics. Therefore, you can read an essay & then let the book sit for weeks or months w/out sacrificing anything. So, that makes it a great book to have "at the ready" in places where you may need to kill some time by having a book in-hand. I would highly recommend this book for people who have an interest in ancient Greece, but do not @ present know too much about it. This book is an excellent introduction to that epoch. For the classical scholar / student, this book is an absolutely indispensable reference.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to the golden age of ancient Greece
Review: Through focusing on 37 historical personages who have largely defined classical Greek civilization, Michael Grant has created an ideal introduction on the subject for the uninitiated. The book is informative, easy to absorb and extremely readable. If you harbor any interest regarding Ancient Greece and don't know where to begin, this is an ideal spot.
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