the Greeks - A study of the character and history of an ancient civilization, and of the people who created it.

H. D. F. Kitto

Pelican

1951

256 páginas

8h 32m

ISBN-13: 9780140202205

The author has tried to write something like a biography and a character-sketch of the Greek people rather than yet another book on 'the Greek achievement'. To attempt the latter in a book of this size would have been foolish; the Greeks did so much of outstanding quality and interest, Other peoples may have surpassed them in any or of two of the major activities of humanity - in philosophy, literature, social and political organizations, science, art, commerce, what you will - but no one can rival them all along the line.

The theme of this book therefore is not what the Greeks did, byt what they were; in particular, what were the habits of mind and way of life that made their civilization and culture what it was. This civilization has often been called 'a miracle'. Perhaps it was a miracle, but the author hopes to have shown that is was a perfectly natural one. As this is not a catalogue, some of the finest products of the Breek genius - Greek art, for example - are barely mentioned; the author selected those topics which he found most congenial, and which seemed to him to bring out most clearly what he wanted to bring out. Also, he wanted the Greeks to explain themselves, so far as possible; he has therefore given considerable prominence to their literature. Some of his readers may demur; the Greeks would not have done.

The material is arrenged on a substructure of Greek political history. This should enable those to read the book in comfort who might find it difficult to say off-hand who came first, Solon or Pericles.