Redeeming Thucydides' Book VIII: Narrative Artistry in the Account of the Ionian War

Vasileios Liotsakis

Published by De Gruyter 2017

Redeeming Thucydides' Book VIII

Narrative Artistry in the Account of the Ionian War

Vasileios Liotsakis

Volume 48 in the series Trends in Classics - Supplementary Volumes

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110533071

Overview
Contents

About this book

Since antiquity, Book 8 of Thucydides’ History has been considered an unpolished draft which lacks revision. Even those who admit that the book has some elements of internal coherence believe that Thucydides, if death had not prevented him, would have improved many chapters or even the whole structure of the book. Consequently, while the first seven books of the History have been well examined through the last two centuries, the narrative plan of Book 8 remains an obscure subject, as we do not possess an extensive and detailed presentation of its whole narrative design. Vasileios Liotsakis tries to satisfy this central desideratum of the Thucydidean scholarship by offering a thorough description of the compositional plan, which, in his opinion, Thucydides put into effect in the last 109 chapters of his work. His study elaborates on the structural parts of the book, their details, and the various techniques through which Thucydides composed his narration in order to reach the internal cohesion of these chapters as well as their close connection to the rest of the History. Liotsakis offers us an original approach not only of Book 8 but also of the whole work, since his observations reshape our overall view of the History.

Author / Editor information

Vasileios Liotsakis, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg.

Reviews

"[...] his prose is straightforward and accessible. He makes his points clearly and regularly revisits them. Overall, this volume is an important contribution to the unitarian view of Book VIII and offers a successful challenge to those who regard the final book as an incomplete draft in need of revision. Anyone interested in the composition of the History or in narratology in general will find this to be a valuable resource."
Nicholas D. Cross in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2018.02.12

"Durch seine ungemein detaillierte und stets übersichtliche Studie hat Liotsakis ein Werk verfasst, das zwar keine radikal neuen Einschätzungen anstoßen wird, das aber dennoch einen originellen Beitrag zur anhaltenden Neubewertung des achten Buches bietet."
Hans Kopp in: H-Soz-Kult http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/rezensionen/2017-4-119

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Foreword Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	VII
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	IX
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 1. The revolt type-narratives and the account of Chios (8.1–24) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	20
Chapter 2. The loss of prestige and recovery I: The echoes of Phrynichus’ admonitions (8.25–107) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	64
Chapter 3. The loss of prestige and recovery II: The retardation before the battle of Cynos Sema (8.25–107) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	103
Chapter 4. The battles of Miletus and of Cynos Sema Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	141
Epilogue Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	165
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	173
Index locorum Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	188
Index nominum et rerum Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: All those interested in ancient Greek literature, ancient history and historiography.
Pages
- Front matter: 10
- Main content: 201
Illustrations
- Line drawings: 3
- Tables: 5
Keywords: Historiography; Peloponnesian War; Thucydides

eBook

Published: June 12, 2017
ISBN: 9783110533071

Hardcover

Published: June 12, 2017
ISBN: 9783110532074