The Ten Thousand

Xenophon, 431 BCE-350？ BCEProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.4

Word count: 468K words
Chapters: 47

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Els Deu Mil by Plutarch and XenophonAuthor: Xenophon, 431 BCE-350? BCE,Language: Catalan, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Oct 30, 2006

Editor's review

This is the Catalan translation of the Anabasis by the ancient Greek writer Xenophon. It recounts how a Greek mercenary army, after the death of Cyrus the Younger, fought its way north out of the Persian interior and finally returned to the sea. The work combines factual record with military narrative; the author was both a participant and one of the commanders, so the account has a vivid immediacy and also an unavoidable element of self-justification. Its descriptions of the line of march, terrain, relations with local tribes, shifts in morale and decision-making make it both an important text of classical historiography and an early example of the Western military memoir tradition. The Catalan translation offers a concrete sample of how this classic has circulated in different languages. Readers should note the author's stance and his selection of material, and should not take the judgments in the book as wholly neutral reportage. It suits students of classics, military history and translation studies, as well as general readers interested in narratives of expedition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying ancient Greek history and classical military history
Enthusiasts of the Western military memoir tradition
Readers interested in Catalan translation and the circulation of classics
General readers who enjoy documentary narratives of marches and breakouts

Not a good fit for

Readers with no Catalan who are unwilling to use a translation
Readers expecting modern novelistic pacing and fictional plots
Beginners who need systematic historical background notes

Reading tips

Before reading, learn the basic background of Cyrus the Younger's expedition and the Persian succession struggle.
Follow the route on a map as you read, noting how terrain shapes decisions.
Watch the narrator Xenophon's stance and distinguish factual record from self-justification.
Compare with Arrian's account of Alexander's expedition and other authors to compare narrative traditions.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a novel or a historical record?

It is usually classified as historical narrative, and Xenophon was a participant and one of the commanders. But the account carries a clear personal stance and apologetic intent, so it should be read as a tendentious historical source rather than a fully objective record.

Can I read it without knowing Catalan?

This is a Catalan translation; without the language you will need a translation in another language or read it alongside one. If your aim is to understand the content, read a standard Chinese or English translation first, then return to this one for language and translation studies.

Why is the title translated as The Ten Thousand?

The title refers to the size of the Greek mercenary force on the expedition, and Chinese versions are often titled Changzheng Ji or Wànrén Yuǎnzhēng. Different translations emphasize different aspects of the title, but all refer to the same work about the Greek mercenaries' retreat home.

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About the author

Xenophon, 431 BCE-350？ BCE Author

Xenophon (c. 431–c. 350 BCE) was an ancient Greek historian, military commander and prose writer. Public information about the details of his life is limited, and his works are the main basis for understanding him and his thought. The collection holds 20 of his works, including Anabasis, Hellenica, Cyropaedia and The Memorabilia. These writings combine historical narrative, military memoir and philosophical dialogue; their style is clear and plain, their narration concrete and vivid, and they are especially notable for firsthand accounts of campaigns he experienced. His works have long circulated as important sources for the study of ancient Greek politics, warfare and thought, and have influenced later historical writing and educational ideas.