The modern person who wants to read or study Thucydides' History will realize that this work is the intellectual legacy left by an observer with remarkable insight, an interpreter of events with strict objectivity and exceptional foresight, and at the same time a great craftsman of language. In his work, everything is perfectly structured: every word, every phrase, every observation, even omission, contributes to the presentation of an interpretation that he wanted to highlight.

The second book of the History includes the events of the first three years of the Peloponnesian War, starting with the outbreak of the conflict in the spring of 431 BC. Towards the end of the narrative of the events of the first year, the historian places the famous "Funeral Oration". This is followed by the stunning description of the terrible plague, Pericles' final speech, the description of his personality, and the assessment of Athenian politics. The book ends with the naval clashes between the two opponents and the diplomatic contacts between Athens and Sparta.

This work, with its careful and responsible translation and detailed commentary, will contribute to the understanding of the work.