Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens I Robin Waterfield

Also published in a Folio Society edition, 2021

Written primarily for history buffs and university students and published in 2018, this is a compact and comprehensive history of ancient Greece from roughly 750 BCE to the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BCE, which left the Romans in control of the Mediterranean.

Reviews

‘A superlative textbook … The scholarship is thorough, deep, and well explained … Readers looking for an authoritative account of almost any aspect of ancient Greek history should be thoroughly gratified’ - Kirkus

‘Notably lucid … an eminently usable textbook’ – Thomas Figueira, Canadian Journal of History

‘The scholarship is impeccable. Waterfield touches on a staggering array of topics, succinctly reviewing the evidence and summarizing the most recent scholarly work. The book repeatedly demonstrates intimate familiarity with the primary source material of all areas within the scope of the work … Well-conceived organization … effective aids for the reader … a great success’ – Andrew Alwine, Classical Review

‘The strength of the book lies in its combination of political developments with larger structural chapters on cultural, social or economic phenomena (e.g. the very good overview of religion). ... The reader is led with a sure hand and in elegant language ... Waterfield’s enthusiasm for the subject never leads to romantic distortion, but enables sensible judgments based on broad and solid factual knowledge. The book will certainly inspire not a few to deal further (or again) with ancient Greek history’ – Raimund Schulz, Historische Zeitschrift

'Waterfield’s searching approach to the nature of Greek identity transforms this otherwise highly traditional, chronological history into something more revelatory … suitably authoritative and measured … wide-ranging, but enlivened by its detail’ – Daisy Dunn, Sunday Times

‘Succeeds brilliantly … rare clarity … an indisputable achievement … thoroughly recommended’ – David Stuttard, Classics for All

‘A highly readable and stimulating introduction to a fascinating area of history. Waterfield’s accessible but still authoritative tone brings the sights, sounds and citizens vividly to life. This evocative book manages to tread an often fine line between storytelling and scholarly history with a lightness of touch that belies the depth and scope of its approach … This engaging one-volume history will appeal to a great many readers’ – All About History

‘Waterfield’s book is a pleasure to read: his prose is lively, entertaining, humane, and well researched, and contains a wealth of detail for both student and educator. This work could provide a valuable central text for a college-level Greek history course’ – Mik Larsen, The History Teacher

‘Compact and comprehensive … A very readable political history of ancient Greece, while also providing chapters on Greek religion, literature, social constructs, and arts” – Gabriel Andreica, Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology

‘A comprehensive account … captivating … Waterfield presents new viewpoints, arguments, and scholarship for consideration, while providing interesting anecdotes along the way to make this tome a rather pleasurable read … also an excellent resource … suited for academics and general readers alike’ – Sandra Alvarez, Ancient History Magazine

‘As smoothly readable and authoritative an approach to the tangled subject of ancient Greece as could be readily imagined … Scholarly but never pedantic, and told by a true enthusiast with a gift for clarifying’ – Steve Donoghue, Open Letters

‘Hefty, but highly readable … it can be relied on as a distillation of twenty-first-century historians’ overall view of the subject. … We are in sure hands as Waterfield guides us through the major historical milestones’ – Jack Mitchell, Literary Review of Canada

‘A distinctive and decidedly modern interpretation of Greek history … Waterfield writes with flair … an enjoyable … interpretation of Greek history’ – Kenneth Harl, Military History Quarterly

'If you’re seeking a decent introduction to ancient Greek history, and want it written in an accessible and engaging style, this is a good choice’ – David Miano, davidmiano.net

'One of the things that amazed me the most about this book was the ease with which Waterfield managed to shuttle between the overarching history of ancient Greece and the granular details that helped to flesh out the outline. He also has a keen eye for what makes a historical narrative work, and he makes sure that the reader never loses interest in the affairs of the great and powerful, while also giving the reader a pretty thorough understanding of the things that united Greek culturally' - Thomas J. West, Cliophilia

‘Engaging but rigorously researched narrative history. All you ever needed to know about the Greeks’ – The Lady