This edition is certainly handsome, bellsy and whistley, and the text itself reads well, but it is cluttered with tiny redundant maps and footnotes that are often useless and, worst of all, labeled in an absurdly contrived fashion. Consider: page 224 has six footnotes which are marked in the text as a, a, a, a, b and c. The footnotes themselves at the bottom of the page are named 3.37.1a, 3.37.3a, 3.38.4a, 3.39.1a, 3.39.1b and 3.39.1c. The left margin of the page has paragraph titles 3.37, 3.38 and 3.39. When I see an 'a' in the text, I look down and see four 'a' footnotes, then look left and see three paragraphs, then look in the text to see which paragraph I was reading, then look left again to see what the paragraph's number is, and then look down and find the correct 'a' footnote. FAIL. The apparatus is condescending (I don't need to be told where Egypt is, especially once every three pages), yet at the same time hinders legibility.

If you're in the market, consider the Everyman's Library edition: you don't need to pay extra for this if you have half a brain of your own.

There are good reasons to refer to this edition as the "Landmark". To begin with it has 127 maps which I found invaluable. All of the places in the text are referenced to a specific map with location references where necessary. The maps are excellent and some pages contain three maps that are series of insets from the overview to detailed maps of smaller sections. The book also includes 21 appendices dealing with how specific topics are treated in the text. There are also a good number of photographs of relevant artifacts, monuments and places. For example there are three photos of the victory tripod, it looks like a column, erected by the Greeks at Delphi celebrating their victory over the Persians. It was moved to Constantinople and the inscription listing the states who participated in the war is still legible. These additions are not bells and whistles but integral parts of the book that add greatly to understanding and enjoying the text.
Herodotus narrative centers around the Persian-Greek wars but that is only about one-third to one-half of the text. There are large sections on Egypt and Scythia and smaller sections that cover most of the civilizations of the eastern Mediterranean. There are discussions of a variety of topics from religion to clothing and everything in between.
Some of the material is pure mythology and some is the best factual accounts we have of the topics discussed. Herodotus seems to have traveled widely and gathered information from many sources. He was obviously a person who was afflicted with a great curiosity about human affairs of all types. At the same time he was focused on the importance of the war and provides much detail on all of the battles and other events.
I think that this book is essential for anyone with an interest in ancient Greece. Reading any other edition of Herodotus would not provide the reader with the richness of experience and knowledge contained in this edition. It will now sit on my bookshelf like an old friend waiting for another visit. ( )

I have only a passing familiarity with Ancient and Classical Greek history, but after reading http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200701... I thought I'd give it a try. The maps and annotations helped put things in context, but the story telling itself is rollicking: politics, religion, cannibalism, pedastry, all in the first chapter! ( )