Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book II

This is my favourite book without a doubt. Its focus on the political and military situation is exceptional. What really got me into the book was the realisation that this was not just a war between Sparta and Athens but a massive war between the Greeks (and by extension the Persians who sought to reinstate their old empire). Futhermore the generals on each side were immensely competent and showed how close this war was, even with the Sicilian blunder Athens was still not out of the war entirely. I love the use of speeches as a way to break up the text. So many good case studies from the Melian Dialogue, to the oligarchic coup of Athens and the democratic resistance at Samos. Such a good book and one I will plan to reread over and over to really understood the extent of the war and the various details between the issues of various Greek polities.