“Hall在全书中举例说明了古希腊人民的探究精神、原创精神和开放的心态……她也通过本书告诉大家，还能以如此文明、人性化的方式对前人进行研究”——Tom Payne，《每日电讯》（5星）
“Hall以一种富有启发性、通俗易懂的方式介绍了这个神奇的民族……这部精彩的杰作让我们对古希腊人又崇敬又喜爱……”——John Davie，《独立报》
“就算是冲着Hall优美的文笔，这部新鲜的小书也非常值得一读。”——Suzi Feay，《金融时报》
“行文精彩流畅……读者们一定会对这部通俗易懂的作品非常满意。”——《出版人周刊》
“In Edith Hall’s new and ground-breaking study of ancient Greek culture, society, and mentality over a millennium and more, from Agamemnon to Constantine, theater takes its due place among the Greeks’ manifold memorable and pioneering achievements. Professor Hall acutely identifies and brilliantly explores ten defining qualities that together explain why we simply cannot do without the ancient Greeks.” Paul Cartledge, Professor of Greek Culture, University of Cambridge
“Edith Hall’s characteristically original approach to the world of classical antiquity is on full display in this introductory survey of the ancient Greeks and their enduring accomplishments. Covering such disparate topics as the love of seafaring, a passion for excellence, suspicion of authority, addiction to speech and rhetoric, a zest for wit and polish, and an enduring search for beauty (to name only a few), Hall will accompany the reader on a voyage of both pleasure and discovery.” Froma Zeitlin, Emeritus Ewing Professor of Greek Language and Literature, Princeton University
"Throughout, Hall exemplifies her subjects’ spirit of inquiry, their originality and their open-mindedness… And in doing that…she reminds us of how civilizing and humanizing a study of the ancients can be" Tom Payne, Daily Telegraph (5 stars)
“What accounts for the glory that was Greece? In this vivacious and learned book, Edith Hall distills the essence of Hellenic culture to discover the secrets of its success and stamina. Filled with striking anecdotes and little-known facts, this book will delight any student of the ancient Greek world.” Adrienne Mayor, Stanford University, author of The Poison King
“A superb introduction, informative and inspiring. With deep expertise and unabashed enthusiasm, Edith Hall surveys the whole history of the ancient Greeks and pinpoints the shared traits that explain their enduring achievements.” Sheila Murnaghan, Professor of classics studies and Alfred Reginald Allen Memorial Professor of Greek at the University of Pennsylvania
"[Hall] provides a thoroughly readable and illuminating account of this fascinating people… This excellent book makes us admire and like the ancient Greeks equally" John Davie Independent
"A worthy and lively introduction to one of the two groups of ancient peoples who really formed the western world" Christopher Hart, Sunday Times
"Edith Hall has a brilliant ability to intellectually analyse the Greeks… because of deep, searching curiosity, and her sense of how this culture reflects upon our moment now. Her writing is so clear and accessible… full of complex reflections and revelations" Ian Rickson
"Wide-ranging and endlessly fascinating… It is a fitting tribute to history that ought to be preserved… because it would, at the very least, enrich our conversation and range of comparison with events today" Daisy Dunn, Standpoint
"This crisp little book is also worth reading for Hall’s elegant prose" Suzi Feay, Financial Times
"[Hall’s] new book pulls off the twin feats of being a chronological history…and a thematic history… [A] terrifically good book" Natalie Haynes, Observer
“Penetrating and acute.” James Romm, Wall Street Journal