The History of the Peloponnesian War, by Thucydides

Oxford: Printed by T. Combe for John Henry Parker, 1842. Second edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 3 vol. 8vo. [3], iv-xxiv, [1], 2-543, [3]; [3], iv-viii, [1], 2-324; 429, [1] pp. Mid-nineteenth century full calf with twin gilt rules on the boards, spines in six compartments with gilt decorations, each spine with two recent labels lettered in gold; all edges marbled. Marbled endpapers and pastedowns. Bound by Macmillan & Co. of Cambridge. Thucydides' writings here are in ancient Greek, the commentary and notes are in English. Illustrated by maps, taken entirely from actual surveys, with historical and geographical notes. Volumes one and two with five maps (most of which are folding), volume three illustrated with three maps. Graesse 150. Oxford DNB, A. J. H. Reeve, "Arnold, Thomas (1795-1842)". The second Thomas Arnold edition. First published from 1830 to 1835, Arnold's Thucydides was reprinted several times. His edition was well-received for its interdisciplinary nature: making use of both historical and geographical knowledge. Arnold's commentary compares ancient history to modern events. His commentary and notes were heavily influenced by his own eye-witness account of the Napoleonic wars. Thucydides' work remains an important history of the Golden Age of Athens and of Greece in general. It is one of the first historical publications to rely on primary sources and first-hand accounts of the events in question. Thucydides is considered a founder of the discipline of history, and his account of the Peloponnesian War left an important record of the subsequent decline of Athens. Traces of wear and rubbing to the corners and the crown of the first volume's spine, leaves with occasional pencil marginalia.