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Title: Stories from Herodotus

Author: Lorna Oakes

Narrator: Catherine O'Brien

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-17

Publisher: Essential Audiobooks LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Classics, Greek & Roman

Publisher's Summary:

Herodotus wrote the first history book in the world. That is why he is sometimes called the "Father of History". He lived about 2500 years ago in the fifth century BC. He was born at a place called Halicarnassus in Asia Minor. The modern names for these places are Bodrum in Turkey. Herodotus was a keen traveler who went all over the ancient world and was interested in everything he saw and heard.

Members Reviews:

Entertaining and educational!

If youve ever tried to read Herodotus, then you know that most translations have a lot of repetition and ramble on a bit. Now Lorna Oakes gives us some great stories from Herodotus distilled down into thoughtful, sometimes action-packed, stories that will delight adults and entertain kids.

The book starts off with a little bit about Herodotus. He traveled extensively during his lifetime and wrote down historical events as best he could. Many of the events he wrote about happened generations before his time, so theres bound to be some inaccuracies. Yet theres a charm to his works as well. He made a grand attempt at recording the known worlds history and that account has survived to this day. All around, that is extraordinary. I, myself, have only read a bit of Herodotus but Oakess book makes it easy to absorb the essence of the tales Herodotus was trying to capture.

Theres 4 parts to this book. Part I is all about King Croesus in Lydia, which is in modern-day Turkey. He has a portentous dream and is concerned about his reign. I really like how he tested the various oracles. Very clever! Yet he then relies on the foretelling of the Delphi Oracle, misinterpreting the true meaning. Oakes does a great job here of just telling this tale, showing us how arrogance can color the meaning to any oracle riddle. It provides a great discussion point for adults and kids alike.

Part II is the Story of Cyrus. Part I flowed into Part II as both Cyrus and King Croesus are both influenced by the Delphi Oracle. This tale tells us how Cyrus came into power. Its significant because Cyrus united two major families and became a significant Persian ruler. Cyrus was slated for death as a babe but he was saved by a cowherder and his wife. Later, of course, this is discovered and a reckoning must come out of it. I love that Oakes doesnt leave out a rather bit of gruesome in this story. She doesnt linger over it either and I feel it was essential to show motivation for one of the characters vengeance.

Part III is about Herodotuss time in Egypt. Of course, he visits the great pyramids and writes about how they were constructed. Herodotus gives us his version of how Psammeticus became king of the 26th dynasty of Egypt. This sections also includes the tale of King Apries and how he was overthrown by General Amasis and rebel forces. For me, it was the bits about the Great Pyramids that stood out most in this section.

Part IV is all about the Greeks and Persians. Theres some famous stories in this section, including the tale of Leonidas and how he and his small force repelled Xerxess army. This is a captivating story and the retelling of it here is well done. This section also includes the esteemed Greek physician Democedes. He was taken captive and bounced around a bit, sometimes as tribute. He ties Polycrates of Samos to the Persian king Darius.

All around, its a great collection of ancient tales based on Herodotuss works.