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"Was it Kagan's book that you found to be so dreary? "

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It was the translation found in the 54-volume "Great Books Of The Western World" series published in 1952 by Encyclopedia Britannica/University of Chicago. You probably know the series. Perhaps it was the small print of the volume. But I forgot the translator's name.

I'll give it a try again later. But I did read through all of Herodotus this year, and through Plutarch as well--but, alas, in English. I only have enough Greek to get through the first sentence of Plato's "Apologia".

You probably know the series. Perhaps it was the small print of the volume. But I forgot the translator's name.

I own the identical set; same publishing year, and yes the dual-column page layout as well as the insultingly small (seven-point?) font size make the entire set far more tedious than necessary and takes away a great deal from the enjoyment of those essential works. The translation was done by Richard Crawley in 1910, and although it may have been a perfectly fine effort I can't believe that Kagan didn't have in mind a desire to improve upon Crawley's work in his far more recent book. Considering the fact that Kagan's book is available used at Amazon for only $2.00, I may end up getting a copy and seeing for myself how Kagan has approached this. Most Amazon reviewers seem to like it, with Rob Hardy stating "Translators agree that Thucydides's style is difficult and subject to varying interpretations, and the different battles and overall strategies of the war can get lost." but he as well as most other Amazon reviewers seem to approve of Kagan's effort.

I'll give it a try again later. But I did read through all of Herodotus this year, and through Plutarch as well--but, alas, in English. I only have enough Greek to get through the first sentence of Plato's "Apologia".

You're doing better than I am; I'm trying to follow the Ten Year Reading Plan and find that the small type size and dual column layout of these old Britannica editions turns the joys of reading into an unpleasant chore, as I like to read in bed and balancing a reading magnifier in that setting is difficult to say the least. I'm gradually replacing the set with individual volumes in an easier to read layout, and I think that Kagan's will be my replacement for Crowley's Thucydides.

I agree with your frustrations at not being able to read in the original languages....it's a reminder of how short life it, and how nice it would be to have unlimited time to appreciate all classic literary works in their original forms.