The Histories

Herodotus set out to explain why the Greeks and Persians went to war, but he could never resist a good story along the way. Before reaching Marathon and Thermopylae, the Histories takes in Egyptian pyramids and crocodiles, Scythian nomads, Babylonian customs and the fabulous wealth of King Croesus.

Tom Holland’s translation captures the chatty, wandering charm of the original better than any other we know. It reads like a well-told tale from a brilliant dinner guest, and Paul Cartledge’s notes help untangle the many names and places.

The book is long, and the digressions can test readers who only want the battles. The best approach is to relax and enjoy the journey: Herodotus always gets there in the end.

Our verdict

A book to keep by the bed and return to again and again.