The Peloponnesian War. By Thucydides. Limited Edition. Franklin Library. Franklin Center, 1978.

Thucydides as an Athenian historian from the fifth century BC. At the onset of the Peloponnesian War––the war between Athens and Sparta––he served as an Athenian general, but after a military failure at Amphipolis, he was exiled. Yet his role in the conflict only changed. Through exile, he was able to capture a non-partisan view of the war which he famously catalogued in this volume. It is a remarkable work, one that helped to establish political history as a literary genre in the western tradition. Unlike other ancient Greek texts, Thucydides’ work pursued factual accounts and omitted mythical renditions of events. There are no gods or supernatural creatures. Instead, The Peloponnesian War focuses on the military leaders, political operators, battles, locations, and significant events. It thus remains one of the most important texts from the period, and made its subject one of the most studied and historically grounded ancient conflicts ever recorded.

This limited edition is in fine condition. In the original blue leather, finely gilt stamped. Raised bands. Gilt spine label. Text block fine. Gilt edges. Silk moire endpapers and bookmark sewn in.

A fine collector’s copy of The Peloponnesian War.