Travels with Herodotus 

by Ryszard Kapuściński

"Herodotus is by turns surprised, astounded, delighted, terrified by things. To some he simply gives no credence, knowing how easily people can be carried away by fantasy."(p 182)


This was my introduction to the world of Ryszard Kapuscinski. And what an introduction. I was impressed and intrigued with his fine writing style and the way that he was able to interpolate his companion, The Histories of Herodotus, with his youthful travels in India, China, and beyond. Having read Herodotus' work fairly recently this was even more a delight as I marveled at the interpretations Kapuscinski shares with the reader as he travels the world. He comes full circle back to the Mediterranean Sea that was central to Herodotus and the Greeks. Ending with a visit to Halicarnassus where Herodotus was born he bridges the time that has passed since that day with a meditation on the meaning of history. I subsequently read his The Shadow of the Sun and look forward to other of Kapuscinski's books.


Travels With Herodotus by Ryszard Kapucinski. Klara Glowczewska, trans. Alfred A. Knopf, 2007 (2004)


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