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Kagan, once again, has written an excellent book. For readers seeking an introduction to the Peloponnesian War, I can imagine no better place to start--except, perhaps, Thucydides, but even then it might be wise to begin with this introduction. Reading only this, the neophyte to ancient Greece would have a solid foundation and, desiring more, could easily turn to Kagan's original four-volume history of the war (although, to profit from that, it is a must to have read Thucydides). Even those familiar with the war and with Kagan's works will find this a wonderful refresher.

Kagan avoids modern parallels (except for the briefest of references to Neville Chamberlain and World War I) and the historiographical depth of his four-volume history and instead focuses on creating a solid, flowing narrative and analyzing events where necessary. Kagan's framework for analysis centers on Pericles and his moderating influence on Athenian policy. While Pericles was alive, Athens consistently took the middle path, avoiding the extremes of pacifism and aggression. After he died in 429, Athens moved toward more aggressive policies, exemplified by the massacre at Melos.

Readers will no doubt form their own opinions and draw their own parallels to modern events--whether to the Cold War or the Great War--and that's Kagan's intention, to let the narrative speak for itself. This "tragic event" is eminently worth studying, and Kagan is one of its most eminent modern students. The book does not disappoint.

For those who repeatedly hear about the wonders of Thucydides' prose yet can't make it through the entire work, this book is a welcome reprieve. The chronological history of the war and all its precious nuances are delivered to the reader with a true historian's understanding. As a reader who devours Herodotus like candy but can't connect with Thucydides at any point in his work, I found this book to be a valuable resource for the pursuit of information on the Peloponnesian War.

However, I have always been at odds with some of Kagan's points of view. For one, I tend to form my opinions of Alcibiades through my own research. It is apparent that Kagan tends to belittle many of Alcibiades' accomplishments and possibly considers him a bit of a "rogue". And anyone who is familiar with Kagan can attest to his narratives having somewhat of an anti-spartan slant. (Case in point: his palpable dislike for Sparta in his comments during the History Channel's "Rise and Fall of Sparta"). But, just as with any historian, one must read with discretion. Nevertheless, Kagan's effort is greatly appreciated!

Sure you could read all three comprehensive books written by Kagan to get a really in-depth lesson on the Peloponnesian War, but for the casual history buff this is much easier. The book is not short on details though. In 494 pages Kagan does an outstanding job of covering the entire Peloponnesian War from start to finish, giving the reading a thorough understanding of the entire affair. Anyone interested in Greek history ought to read this book, and even then you will have just touched the tip of the iceberg for a country whose history is as vast as any other civilization on Earth.