Reviews

The Madness of Cambyses by Herodotus

obscuredbyclouds's review

Go to review page

1.0

I did not get this at all. Maybe I needed more context.

zezee's review

Go to review page

informative slow-paced

2.5

mryjne's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

3.0

coolfisch_'s review

Go to review page

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

jcampbell's review

Go to review page

informative fast-paced

3.0

The originator of history and an interesting story but the translation was a bit odd and the format felt of as it’s missing elements that help to explain it due to the little black classics format. 

rvandenboomgaard's review

Go to review page

5.0

Good to be reminded of one of the originators of the study of history. Even though here, already, we see some of the summary of bland facts that is so characteristic of contemporary (academic) history, Herodotus is quite different not only because he uses myth, but because he dares to comment on the validity of the explanations he’s received, as well as simply make the text more of a narrative.

This greatly aids in the readability of the text.

Oh, and it’s nice to read the textual context to the famous story of Polycrates, his good luck, and his signet-ring!

jcovey's review

Go to review page

3.0

Goodness does Herodotus like to ramble. Some good stuff in here though.

exestentialchrisis's review

Go to review page

3.0

Love Herodotus but the translation was terrible

woolfardis's review

Go to review page

2.0

This is a very well written (or translated, if you prefer) account of, indeed, the madness of Cambyses, an ancient Persian king who conquered Egypt. In tone it is similar to the Little Black Classic number 17, about the deranged Roman Emperor Caligula, wherein they are both as sane as a box of frogs. However, Arabic and Egypt history does not interest me all that much and I found there was a little too much information packed in to such a short piece.


Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Shop | Etsy

urlphantomhive's review

Go to review page

4.0

History has had its shares of crazy kings/rulers, and the Persian king Cambyses most certainly was one of them. Herodotus was a large part of our end-work for Greek in school, so I read quite some of his histories, but in Greek, before.

The Madness of Cambyses is not as famous as for examples Croesus - the richest man on Earth, but well worth a read.

~Little Black Classics #78~

Find all my reviews on https://www.urlphantomhive.booklikes.com