In Books 6 and 7 Thucydides' narrative is, as Plutarch puts it, 'at its
most emotional, vivid, and varied' as he describes the Sicilian
Expedition that ended so catastrophically for Athens (415-413 BCE). Book
7 opens with Athens seemingly on the point of victory, but the arrival
of the Spartan commander Gylippus marks a change in fortunes and the
Athenian commander Nicias is soon sending home a desperate plea for
reinforcements. Three narrative masterpieces follow their arrival, first
the eerie confusion of the night battle on the heights, then the naval
clash in the Great Harbour, and finally the desperate attempt to escape
and the slaughter at the river Assinarus. Following the sister
commentary on Book 6, the Commentary offers students considerable help
understanding the Greek while the Introduction discusses Thucydides'
narrative skill and the part these books play in the architecture of the
history.