Rating: 
Summary: Retelling the Anabasis
Review: An incredible narrative that entertains those who read it. Retelling the Anabasis with great talent and thorough research. Recommended for those who have not read Xenophon in the original Greek.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fine Piece of Work
Review: Back in the day, one had to learn Latin and or Greek to be considered an "educated man" and Xenophon's "Anabasis" was one of the 'industry-standard' books of the Greek curriculum. Most, if not all, higher educated men had to read this classic work and probably knew it by heart - making the story common knowledge.Well times have changed, and with it Xenophon's work has entered the realm of obscurity for most people today, even those with college educations. Xenophon's story thus, not only should, but actually demands a new introduction for modern audiences who are completely unaware of it. This overview by John Prevas is that work! Not only does the author give a fabulous birds-eye summary to the situation of this extraordinary tale, but he does so in an easy-to-read and entertaining fashion which modern readers have come to expect and demand. I recommend this work to fellow amateur history buffs everywhere. After you read this work, then you should go on and read the Penguin Classics translation by Xenophon himself, (which thankfully has survived to this day). If you don't know of this fascinating story from the Ancient world, then read this book - there's one heck of a killer adventure story waiting for you my friend!
Rating:
Summary: A Fine Piece of Work
Review: Back in the day, one had to learn Latin and or Greek to be considered an "educated man" and Xenophon's "Anabasis" was one of the 'industry-standard' books of the Greek curriculum. Most, if not all, higher educated men had to read this classic work and probably knew it by heart - making the story common knowledge. Well times have changed, and with it Xenophon's work has entered the realm of obscurity for most people today, even those with college educations. Xenophon's story thus, not only should, but actually demands a new introduction for modern audiences who are completely unaware of it. This overview by John Prevas is that work! Not only does the author give a fabulous birds-eye summary to the situation of this extraordinary tale, but he does so in an easy-to-read and entertaining fashion which modern readers have come to expect and demand. I recommend this work to fellow amateur history buffs everywhere. After you read this work, then you should go on and read the Penguin Classics translation by Xenophon himself, (which thankfully has survived to this day). If you don't know of this fascinating story from the Ancient world, then read this book - there's one heck of a killer adventure story waiting for you my friend!
Rating:
Summary: Exciting general history
Review: For those looking for an introduction to Greek/Persian history, or for those who have already read the Anabasis and wanted more historical context, this is the book to have. The beginner will find a guiding hand in the politics and intrigue of what Prevas calls the "tumultuous 5th century." This fascinating era of Western history witnessed a clash of civilizations and ethos that still reverberates today--a look at the contrasts between dictatorships and democratic countries is equally prevalent then and now. Prevas does an excellent job appealing to readers to see these parallels. Often he acts like the schoolteacher he is, imploring those unfamiliar with these classic stories to give them a second chance. His handling of Xenophon certainly merits such a return to the study of Greek culture. Xenophon's march is truly a harrowing adventure set among barbarians and tribal warfare. Prevas' ability to create a sense of forboding each time the Greek soldiers form into their war phalanx, raising their war paean in unison, helps to transport the reader to those long-lost battlefields. Coupled with the author's own travels to the area, the reader is left with a clear vision of what those vast, treacherous plains may have looked like to an ancient warrior. In particular, one should buy this book for the Olympic-like rivalry between the two foes that at one point turns a foot race to the top of a mountain into a race for life and death. The sheer brutality of these cultures is continually, and rightfully, brought to bear upon their contributions to our lives today. The reader already familiar with the Anabasis will find more than a simple retelling and synopsis of Xenophon's work. The conflicting forces that helped shape Xenophon's decisions along the path out of Persia are discussed as each event arises. One can see why this proven leader wishes to return to Athens despite his successes--and then why he returns to his army when they need him, time and again. Xenophon becomes a complex individual figure 2500 years removed from his own lifetime. That Prevas is able to so deftly show how one man affects and is affected by history is a testament to the strength of Xenophon's March. I'd heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in ancient warfare. Also, for those with only patchwork knowledge of ancient Greece, this will help fill in a few mental lacunae.
Rating:
Summary: The "Ten Thousand"
Review: I must confess that my knowledge of classical Greek history is rather weak, so I was very pleased to purchase this book. The author takes Xenophon's "Anabasis" and tells the interested reader about the famed "March of the Ten Thousand" through the Persian Empire and the Anatolian area. It's quite an interesting work, and although at times the author puts out facts that don't really appear to be accurate, he is merely letting us know what Xenophon wrote those many centuries ago. As with all ancient Greek histories, there are extended speeches that were probably never made, but the author does explain that in his afterward, to my satisfaction. Brush up on your Greek history, and read this work.
Rating:
Summary: The "Ten Thousand"
Review: I must confess that my knowledge of classical Greek history is rather weak, so I was very pleased to purchase this book. The author takes Xenophon's "Anabasis" and tells the interested reader about the famed "March of the Ten Thousand" through the Persian Empire and the Anatolian area. It's quite an interesting work, and although at times the author puts out facts that don't really appear to be accurate, he is merely letting us know what Xenophon wrote those many centuries ago. As with all ancient Greek histories, there are extended speeches that were probably never made, but the author does explain that in his afterward, to my satisfaction. Brush up on your Greek history, and read this work.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good As Hannibal Crosses the Alps
Review: I was excited at first to see that John Prevas, who had done such a commendable job, I thought, recounting Hannibal's march into Italy with his previous work, had tackled a reconstuction of Xenophon's march into central Persia and back out again with "the Ten Thousand." Excitement did not hold up under close investigation, however (i.e., actual reading of the work). Prevas has done little more than paraphrase Xenophon's work, and sometimes weakly at that. He has made an attempt to travel along the route of the Ten Thousand, but was obviously blocked from the more treacherous and unreachable portions of Asia Minor, and his work suffers drastically as a result. Prevas apologizes for his inability to reach certain areas, but the end result is that as a reader you get more out of reading a good transation of Xenophon's work instead (assuming you have not the wherewithal to delve into the actual classical Greek). What I personally was looking forward to and expecting was more commentary to help modernize the story and bring the ancient narrative to life in our world, so to speak. For instance, many questions remain about the details of the battle of Cunaxa itself, and Xenophon's own description is confusing in places. Prevas does nothing to elucidate the progress of the battle, and gives it less room than Xenophon did himself. He does not even seem to understand how the battle progressed! Also notably absent from the work are ruminations on the logistics and other problems of moving an army of 8-10 thousand soldiers across a distance of 1200 miles. Prevas did a fairly good job of this, I thought, in his book on Hannibal. In Xenophon there is nothing, which is a true shame. Some of the obvious gaps in his research could have been veiled by sections discussing how "markets" worked for armies at the time (a unique detail of what Xenophon and the soldiers had to put up with) and the basic economic considerations of how much soldiers could expect to be paid, and how that translates into modern terms. But don't expect an exchange rate for the Persian daric, much less the Thracian cyzecene, from Prevas! He mentions them, but he doesn't seem to know what they are. I got much more detailed information from the notes accompanying the translation in the Loeb edition. Even stylistically the book is a severe disappointment. At times Prevas' style lapses into clipped, short, dismembered sentences which read like a poorly-written book for children. My overall impression as I toiled through the last chapters was that Prevas had managed to publish a rough draft of what he intended his book to become, rather than the book itself. This is a shame; Prevas' goal, namely to bring back to life some of the excitement to be found in the classical pieces of literature, is admirable, but it deserved a better effort. Given the chance to do this over, I think I would have skipped Prevas' work entirely this time and gone straight for the Penguin translation. If you still feel inclined to purchase this book, do yourself a favor and wait until it's out in paperback. I wish I had!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Excellent
Review: John Prevas has done an excellent job of plunging the reader into the extraordinary exodus of the Greek mercenaries through the hostile territories of Persia to their return to Greece. His book provides a very interesting and lively introduction to the earlier Greek and Persian wars leading up to the mercenary involvement of the Greeks. He describes the motives of the Greek army in assisting Cyrus to overthrow his brother Ataxerxes, the "King of Kings". In addition the author describes his personal observations of the territories and villages transversed by Xenophon's army of the "Ten Thousand". His book is a read that describes the intrigues, deceptions and treachery that both Persians and Greeks endured. His description of the famous march incorporates his own vivid historical storytelling with the actual ancient accounts of the Xenophon's "Anabasis"
Rating:
Summary: Experiencing Xenophon's March
Review: John Prevas has done an excellent job of plunging the reader into the extraordinary exodus of the Greek mercenaries through the hostile territories of Persia to their return to Greece. His book provides a very interesting and lively introduction to the earlier Greek and Persian wars leading up to the mercenary involvement of the Greeks. He describes the motives of the Greek army in assisting Cyrus to overthrow his brother Ataxerxes, the "King of Kings". In addition the author describes his personal observations of the territories and villages transversed by Xenophon's army of the "Ten Thousand". His book is a read that describes the intrigues, deceptions and treachery that both Persians and Greeks endured. His description of the famous march incorporates his own vivid historical storytelling with the actual ancient accounts of the Xenophon's "Anabasis"
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic popular history
Review: John Prevas has succeeded admirably in producing a popular history that excels.
The best thing about this book is not the rendering of Xenephon's Anabasis, but the opening chapters. There are many 'student' books out there that give a brief history of Hellenistic Greece but the facts are dry and difficult to retain.
In four chapters the book manages to give a succint, memorable outline of both Persian and Greek History from the Heroic Age through to around 400BC when Xenophon joins the Greek mercenary army of Cyrus. My one 'complaint' was I wanted to know what happened to Parystatis, Cryus' mother. But that is not the aim of the book. In the meantime Prevas skipped through Cyrus the Great's conquest of the Medians, to Cambyses, to Darius I, Xerxes I, Darius II. We touch on the Delian League, the battles of Thermopylae, Marathon, Platea. The author gives a concise synopsis of current theories on the Greek polis, the Spartan and Athenian conflicts and the centralised monarchical Persian Empire. All within four excellent chapters. Having studied Ancient History myself all I can say is that if this book had been written whilst I was at college it would have become my reference point for this period of history. Forget J K Davies. This is the general text to have.
Prevas moves swiftly onto the march of Xenophon. My only raised eyebrow was that not much was dedicated to the march before the battle with Ataxerxes. Could have been more detailed.
However, this is not to detract at all. Having also just read "The Ten Thousand' a fictional recreation by Ford, I'd actually recommend people to read this. It a popular history certainly, but it reads far better than any current fictional version of Xenophon. The history is there, but so is the ambience.
Buy this book.
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