The Histories

By: Herodotus

Narrated by: Bernard Mayes

Length: 27 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Herodotus is not only the father of the art and the science of historical writing, but also one of the Western tradition's most compelling storytellers. In tales such as that of Gyges, who murders Candaules, the king of Lydia, and usurps his throne and his marriage bed, thereby bringing on, generations later, war with the Persians, Herodotus laid bare the intricate human entanglements at the core of great historical events.

In his love for the stranger, more marvelous facts of the world, he infused his magnificent history with a continuous awareness of the mythic and the wonderful. For more than a hundred generations, his supple, lucid prose has drawn readers into his panoramic vision of the war between the Greek city-states and the great empire to the east. And in the generosity of his spirit, in the instinctive empiricism that took him searching over much of the known world for information, in the care he took with sources and historical evidence, in his freedom from intolerance and prejudice, he virtually defined the rational, humane spirit that is the enduring legacy of Greek civilization.

(P) Blackstone Audiobooks

"Listen and Learn"

I have learned more about ancient Greece than if I had taken a course at Oxford. The narrator is the best I have ever heard.

Starting over right now

Bernard Mayes's narration is perfect for this book. I found it hard to keep up in a few places but I got through it and I'm starting it over right now

ugh, what is this guy saying?????

the narrator sounds like the old man character off "Family Guy" he even whistles when he says "s's ... not sure how i'm going to get through 20 hours of this : ( ugh.

i was so looking forward to this, but i can barely understand what this guy is saying.

does AUdible give money back?

Whether this is true or not I can not say...

What made the experience of listening to The Histories the most enjoyable?

This book has great scope covering the geography, history, anthropology and zoology of the known world a the time. It covers Persia, Scythia, Egypt and Syria. There might be a thing or two about Greece also. Some of it might even be true. But the story is so compelling as not to matter, and Herodotus says as much many times.

What about Bernard Mayes’s performance did you like?

He sounds very much like my Oxfordian grandfather, if I had one.

Back when audiobooks weren't very good.

The Histories is already a painful book to get through, it's very dense but it's an important work so it should be read. But let's be real, having to sit down and work through this book is rough, so audio is the best way for this one. However, this is not a recommended version. It reads like a dry school lecture, the audio sounds like it was recorded 30 years ago, and at times it sounds like the narrator bumps into the mic over and over.

weak narration

The history itself is fascinating. but the narration leaves something to be desired. There were occasional background noises like it was recorded in someone's house while their family was doing their best to be quiet.

The case against tyrants.

The histories of Herodotus were meant to be read aloud in the theater, so they are more properly called narratives. They contain case after case of tyrants going to war for no good reason. At one point a Spartan general has captured Persian servants prepare a meal as they normally would for the Persian officers and then had his men prepare a Spartan meal. He laughed out loud at the result, called his men in and said "What fools these Persians are to leave their luxury and come to do battle with us to take our penury." Apparently it was ever thus; tyrants, not content with what they control try to control more and reap destruction. It's enlightening in it's tragic repetition of this theme.

A good purchase

I enjoy this audio book. The quality of the story as accurate history is debatable, but it is terribly interesting as much for the perspective of Herodotus as anything else. The quality of the sounds varies at times, but it is generally pretty good.

excellent journalism from the frontlines of war

Reader saw the details of the logistics, planning, tactics, and strategy of war. The reader also saw the full spectrum of human frailty: lust for power, greed, cruelty, courage, cowardice, and much more. Excellent history book, but tedious, which is what it should have been.

Excellent material, marginally read

Herodotus is a classic, but this reading is only average. Try to find a better version if you can.