It is a substantial contribution to Thucydidean studies, which has been a reference book for the work of the Athenian historian since 1984. Robert Connor, a deep connoisseur of the Greek language and literature and with a particular sensitivity to Thucydides' unique and therefore difficult style, analyzes all the small and large units of each book successively, one after the other. In this way, he highlights each time the development of the narrative, as it follows the evolution of the war, the focus and the significance that the historian attributes to each unit, the way in which each book complements the previous one and opens up new paths for understanding not only the previous books but also the next ones. Connor's proposal for reading Thucydides is enlightening and enticing, without being definitive.

Moreover, Thucydides' historical narrative is not definitive, as it does not offer easy recipes and answers but data that certify the constant motion, causing the continuous vigilance of the reader.