What history book are you reading or planning to read?/ The history bookreview thread

[Ptolemaios]

Does anybody know a decent book an Meroe? I just want something basic about their history,
nothing too deep into the subject. My university´s library doesn´t offer much.A German book would be OK, too.

[Arjos]

Does anybody know a decent book an Meroe? I just want something basic about their history,
nothing too deep into the subject. My university´s library doesn´t offer much.A German book would be OK, too.

Can't recommend it or anything (I'm trying to find a copy myself), but "The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization" by László Török seems to be the best around...
Google books has the first 100ish pages in its preview, otherwise I've seen it at an incredibly high price or unavailable :S

[Ptolemaios]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely look into it.

[sventington]

I am actually glad the mod isn't finished yet, as I am waiting to get around to reading The Attalids of Pergamon by Esther Hansen. It was a bit on the pricey side, but it was the most full treatment of the people I could find. I am a slow reader though, so if the release date is somehow magically linked to when I finish the book, don't expect the mod to be done until early next year

[Vlixes]

Mommsen's History of Rome. Already read the first lines and I am mesmerized. Put to it some ancient roman music, and spell is cast.

[kdrakak]

Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State (Hellenistic Culture and Society) by Richard Willows. I was looking for Seleukos Nikator but could only find used and pricy... I am looking for some insight on the early years after Alexander's death.

[Seer7]

The Tactics of Aelian - Christopher Matthew
A Storm of Spears: Understanding the Greek Hoplite in Action - Christopher Matthew
Men of Bronze - Donald Kagan and Gregory E. Viggiano (eds.)
Greek and Macedonian Land Battles of the 4th Century B.C.: A History and Analysis of 187 Engagements - Fred Eugene Ray Jr.

Thinking about these ones. From what I understand Matthew has made quite a stir with Storm of Spears, as he challenges the traditional literature on the practicals of Hoplite warfare using empirical analysis and re-enactors, amongst other things. So really, that and Men of Bronze would have to be read together to get a good idea of the field at this point in time, for an outsider. If anyone has the time, I'd like to hear a perspective on what impact Matthew has had on the field since his book was published last year.

[abou]

Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State (Hellenistic Culture and Society) by Richard Willows. I was looking for Seleukos Nikator but could only find used and pricy... I am looking for some insight on the early years after Alexander's death.

The Legacy of Alexander, Bosworth, Oxford
Between High and Low, Boiy, VerlagAntike

[Moros]

Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State (Hellenistic Culture and Society) by Richard Willows. I was looking for Seleukos Nikator but could only find used and pricy... I am looking for some insight on the early years after Alexander's death.

The Wars of Alexander's Successors 323BC-281BC (2 volumes), BENNETT & ROBERTS, Barnsley, 2008.

Not the most academic work out there but I found it presented the early history and confrontations between his "successors" very clearly, for what is a rather chaotic part in history.