Description: This book examines the use and misuse of historic evidence. Standard conclusions are challenged based on the evidence within his work and the broader historical record. New lessons with modern relevance are drawn from a richer, fuller understanding of Thucydides.
Brief description: Andrew R. Novo is is an associate professor of strategic studies at the National Defense University in Washington, DC. He holds a D.Phil and M.Phil from the University of Oxford and an AB from Princeton University. Dr. Novo's previous publications include When Small Countries Crash and Queen of Cities. He has published in several journals such as Diplomacy & Statecraft and The Journal of Modern Greek Studies as well as in the Harvard International Review and the New Atlanticist. Dr. Novo delivered the inaugural "Thucydides Lecture" at the University of Macedonia (Thessaloniki, Greece) in January 2019 and has also presented at the Brookings Institution and the Atlantic Council.
Review Quotes:
"Restoring Thucydides is an outstanding book that makes Thucydides accessible and resoundingly refutes the popularized notion of a 'Thucydides trap.' Novo and Parker's rich rendition gives context for The History, rescuing it from pinched readings and giving us access to even more valuable lessons about great power competition that entails 'fluid alliances, diplomatic realignments, and conflict proceeding in fits and starts as rival domestic parties grappled for power.'" --Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute
"In this book, two scholars coming from different academic disciplines have clearly leveraged their relative expertise to produce an incredibly learned treatise on the ways in which Thucydides' text is typically (mis)treated by scholars and non-scholars alike. The originality of the arguments advanced provides even scholars who have studied Thucydides for years much fresh insight on virtually every page." --Scott A. Silverstone, Professor of International Relations and Deputy Head, Department of Social Sciences, United States Military Academy
"This well-written book will add to the knowledge and understanding of Thucydides whom many consider to be the 'founding father' of the discipline of international relations. The authors' use of different translations, primary sources, and secondary sources as well as their deep understanding of Thucydides make this an excellent scholarly book. It is a succinct, readable reinterpretation of a classic international relations text. In addition to being a useful summary of the value of Thucydides for contemporary readers, it is also a much-needed corrective to a simplistic interpretation of Thucydides." --Dan Caldwell, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Pepperdine University