The next Great Books KC meeting:
What: The Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
When: January 29, 2010, 7:00 PM
Where: Plaza Branch Library
4801 Main Street, KC, MO 65112
Come join us in January, as we kick off the new year with a discussion of this classic work about an empire, over-extended in foreign engagements, locked in a war it is destined to lose against an implacable enemy.
Extra points if you can deliver the Funeral Oration by memory. ;)
Link to FREE COPIES OF TEXT
Link to FREE AUDIO FILE OF BOOK
Link to LIST OF BOOKS WE'VE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST
Link to WHAT MAKES A BOOK GREAT
Link to HOW WE MAKE OUR SELECTIONS
Link to ESSENTIAL PARTS TO READ OF PELOPONNESIAN WAR
Link to CLIF'S REVIEW OF PELOPONNESIAN WAR
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1 comment:
Bernard (a member of our group) has listed some of the more important portions of The Peloponnesian War for those who would rather not read the whole thing.
Link to original posting of Bernard's comments.
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The following is a copy of his comments:
Here is a possible shorter reading of Thucydides, for those who feel overwhelmed by the scope and detail of the work:
Read Book I in its entirety -- it deals a lot with why Thucydides feels that writing about this event, from his own lifetime, is worth the effort.
Read from Book II, the Funeral Oration of Pericles (2.34 to 2.46) and the great Plague and ramifications of that event (2.47 to 2.65).
From Book III, read the Mytilean Debate (3.36-3.50)
From Book IV, read the Spartan attempts at getting a peace treaty (4.13-4.22).
From Book V, read Brasidas' decision to attack Cleon's forces, and the death of both men (5.9-5.10) and the famous Melian Dialog (5.86-5.116).
From Book VI, read speeches for and against Syracusan expedition and the Herm incident (6.9-6.29) and the story of Harmodius and Aristogeiton (6.53-62)
From Book VII, read the Athenian defeat at Syracuse (7.73-87).
From Book VIII, read Alcibiades' intrigues and the adoption of oligarchy at Athens (8.45-97) and Athenian victory at Cynosema (8.104 to end).
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