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We're going to disagree about the Iliad. It even has a good cop, bad cop scene in it in book 10, the Night Raid. Odysseus and Diomedes go on a night raid to get
by CalChris 5y ago
We're going to disagree about the Iliad. It even has a good cop, bad cop scene in it in book 10, the Night Raid. Odysseus and Diomedes go on a night raid to get ... information. Was there ever a badder bad cop than Diomedes or a smoother talking good cop than Odysseus?
Hell to the fuck yeah, when you get to Plato, you have to want it. I still haven't made it through the Republic.
Plutarch Parallel Lives has a lot of really good biographies. Pick any. Hell, pick Life of Antony.
Herodotus is fun but junk. Thucydides is tough but meaty. Switching to the Romans, Tacitus Agricola is awesome.
Read Gorgias Encomium of Helen (short), I think he's the only Sophist we have, and you might think Plato was a little tough on him.
- dr_dshiv 5y agoDon’t get me wrong, Iliad has great scenes that are super exciting. But if you start from the beginning and expect to read to the end, alone, it will be a slog. I was harsh, but I do think it is a terrible way to start reading the classics. Republic is to be avoided for the same reasons. There is great stuff in there, but maaaan. Will check out your recs!