I have been reading Donald Kagan's "Thucydides: The Reinvention of History". A narrative essay on the one man who was there at the Peloponnesian War. Kagan asks about how and why Thucydides wrote what he did- why he left out great chunks of speeches and other comments about the leaders of his day. It is a wonderful read about the politics of war and peace and the art of negotiations. The spin and the deceit. The careful way the Athenians used the offensive - defensive treaty system in order to avoid war. Kagan weaves the story with history and asks what was on the minds of the players, Spartans and Greeks.

Kagan writes about how to write history and keep it alive. The method is quite important and I have learnt to try the same when doing my essay next year on comparing 14th century politics with 21st century politics which I will argue that both periods are similar. The ball bearing point I will be using to write this narrative essay is Dante's Divine Comedy ion which he heavily criticized popes and emperors.

Thanks for the recommend Peter.

Comments

[Peter]

No worries, but you're well ahead of me. I've ordered Kagan's book but haven't got it yet.