Sailing the Wine-dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter

Jacket Description/Flap: In Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea, his fourth volume to explore "the hinges of history," Thomas Cahill escorts the reader on another entertaining--and historically unassailable--journey through the landmarks of art and bloodshed that defined Greek culture nearly three millennia ago. In the city-states of Athens and Sparta and throughout the Greek islands, honors could be won in making love and war, and lives were rife with contradictions. By developing the alphabet, the Greeks empowered the reader, demystified experience, and opened the way for civil discussion and experimentation--yet they kept slaves. The glorious verses of the Iliad recount a conflict in which rage and outrage spur men to action and suggest that their "bellicose society of gleaming metals and rattling weapons" is not so very distant from more recent campaigns of "shock and awe." And, centuries before Zorba, Greece was a land where music, dance, and freely flowing wine were essential to the high life. Granting equal time to the sacred and the profane, Cahill rivets our attention to the legacies of an ancient and enduring worldview. Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [275]-284) and index. Review Quotes: " A triumph 0f popularization: extraordinarily knowledgeable, informal in tone, amusing, wide ranging, smartly paced." "-- The New York Times Book Review "" The best introduction to classical Greek culture yet written. . . . Learned, stylish and inspiring. . . . Well-informed, insightful and on the whole written in a sparkling style." "-- Los Angeles Times "" Astonishing. . . . If anybody can get us reading about Homer, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Thucydides, Xenophon and more, Cahill will." "-- Chicago Tribune "" Fascinating. . . . Commendable. . . . Cahill has an impressive knowledge of the Greek world. . . . His admirable skill at summing up movements of enormous complexity surface throughout the book." "-- The Seattle Times"Biographical Note: THOMAS CAHILL is the author of the three previous volumes in the Hinges of History series: "How the Irish Saved Civilization," "The Gifts of the Jews," and "Desire of the Everlasting Hills." They have been bestsellers, not only in the United States but also in countries ranging from Italy to Brazil. Cahill was recently invited to address the U. S. Congress on the Judeo-Christian roots of moral responsibility in American politics. He and his wife, Susan, also a writer, divide their time between New York and Rome. Review Quotes: "A triumph 0f popularization: extraordinarily knowledgeable, informal in tone, amusing, wide ranging, smartly paced." "--The New York Times Book Review ""The best introduction to classical Greek culture yet written. . . . Learned, stylish and inspiring. . . . Well-informed, insightful and on the whole written in a sparkling style." "--Los Angeles Times ""Astonishing. . . . If anybody can get us reading about Homer, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Thucydides, Xenophon and more, Cahill will." "--Chicago Tribune ""Fascinating. . . . Commendable. . . . Cahill has an impressive knowledge of the Greek world. . . . His admirable skill at summing up movements of enormous complexity surface throughout the book." "--The Seattle Times" Review Citations:

Wilson Public Library Catalog 01/01/2005 pg. 122 (EAN 9780385495547, Paperback)

New York Times 10/17/2004 pg. 26 (EAN 9780385495547, Paperback)

Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2007 pg. 516 (EAN 9780385495547, Paperback)

Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 630 (EAN 9780385495547, Paperback)

Wilson Public Library Catalog 01/01/2013 pg. 1059 (EAN 9780385495547, Paperback)

Library Journal Prepub Alert 06/01/2003 pg. 94 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Publishers Weekly 08/25/2003 pg. 49 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover) - *Starred Review

Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2003 pg. 1109 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover) - *Starred Review

Booklist 10/01/2003 pg. 295 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

BookPage 11/01/2003 pg. 37 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Library Journal 01/01/2004 pg. 130 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 03/01/2004 pg. 252 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2004 pg. 57 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Library Journal 06/01/2003 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Wilson Public Library Catalog 01/01/2005 pg. 122 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2007 pg. 516 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Wilson Public Library Catalog 12/31/2008 pg. 880 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 630 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Wilson Public Library Catalog 01/01/2013 pg. 1059 (EAN 9780385495530, Hardcover)

Library Journal Prepub Alert 06/01/2003 pg. 94 (EAN 9780375432316, Hardcover)

People Weekly 12/15/2003 pg. 54 (EAN 9780375432316, Hardcover)

Library Journal 06/01/2003 (EAN 9780375432316, Hardcover)

Library Journal Prepub Alert 06/01/2003 pg. 94 (EAN 9780739306871, Compact Disc)

Publishers Weekly 03/01/2004 pg. 29 (EAN 9780739306871, Compact Disc)

Kliatt 03/01/2004 pg. 61 (EAN 9780739306871, Compact Disc)

Library Journal 06/01/2003 (EAN 9780739306871, Compact Disc)

Contributor Bio:  Cahill, Thomas THOMAS CAHILL is the author of the three previous volumes in the Hinges of History series: "How the Irish Saved Civilization," "The Gifts of the Jews," and "Desire of the Everlasting Hills," They have been bestsellers, not only in the United States but also in countries ranging from Italy to Brazil. Cahill was recently invited to address the U. S. Congress on the Judeo-Christian roots of moral responsibility in American politics. He and his wife, Susan, also a writer, divide their time between New York and Rome.