Review by Choice Review
Xenophon's Anabasis, his account of leading the fighting retreat of Greek mercenaries from the center of the Persian empire in 400-399 BCE, is an exemplar of Greek prose and important historically. The translator and introducer, both disciples of political philosopher Leo Strauss, argue that Xenophon is also a significant philosopher, treating here leadership and the merger of the political life with the life of the mind. Their arguments are intriguing, but don't appear to prove their case. Ambler translates the text literally to reveal nuances in the Greek original. This results in sometimes awkward or unclear phrasing, but the charm of the original shows through. Compared to Herodotus, Thucydides, or even the fragmentary Hellenica Oxyrhynchia, Xenophon's historical scholarship is shallow. That makes philosophical depth unlikely. Ambler and Buzzetti suggest that Xenophon used conspicuous religious piety mainly as a technique to manipulate soldiers, but the text proves that Xenophon believed sacrifices could tell the future and that pagan gods intervened in human events. Cheaper, more graceful translations of the Anabasis exist. This one is useful mainly for Straussians--and for those who may wish to rebut their arguments. Summing Up: Optional. Graduate students/faculty. J. M. Williams SUNY Geneseo
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review