A History of Attila and the Huns

A solid scholarly work, now updated by Peter Heather. Nomadic peoples are often a difficult subject, lacking the same amount of archaeological and written evidence that urban civilizations have but Thompson does a good job of sifting through the evidence. Some modern authors, as well as some older ones, use this lack of evidence as encouragement to pursue wild speculation--but Thompson stick closely to what little evidence there is at hand.

As a person interested in the history of Turkish people, I really liked this detailed account of Huns - aincient Turkish people. In the fifth century this brave people managed to built a vast empire and received an annual triute from the Roman Empire. It is true that Attila's empire collapsed briefly after his death but the Huns and their empire were the sings of things to come e.g. Seljuks and Osmalni (Ottoman) Turks.

A text, a classic, a most scholarly work; i can hardly pass just judgement upon this book, the less so since i read it really to get an introduction to the Huns, a people of whom i knew next to nothing. Interestingly, it turns out, there is a reason for my ignorance: Not a lot is known, so not a lot could have been taught to me. This text is, according to the Afterword by Peter Heather, who prepared this edition for publication (Thompson originally wrote over fifty years ago), "a, or arguably, the central text shaping argument in the field"; it certainly has all the trappings of a major, authoritative, well prepared opus ~ from copious, referential notes to seven (!) appendices. Let my awe inform you: This is not the work i had hoped for (an introduction to the Huns), but a full-fledged scholar's treatise. Interesting, but on the level of Ibsen (in Norwegian) instead of the expected Wilde. All my surprise and expectations aside, this was an enjoyable read, because Thompson is a good writer. Without a doubt he knows his subject, backwards, forwards, every-other-wards, and more than knows it, he loves it. The Huns have a fascination for him which he is blessed with the ability to pass on to his readers. Normally at this point in the review i would mention anticipating continuing to learn; this time, of course, i have nowhere else to turn. What i do anticipate is reading more about and learning more of the Eastern Empire of the Fifth Century ~ something i currently know next to nothing about. Thompson has whetted my appetite for that knowledge. Also, of course, i would like to read others in the series, The Peoples of Europe, that Heather revised this work for; i should like to read The Picts, The Scots, The Basques, The Franks ~ all of them, in fact.

college-level libraries with a specific interest in the period will consider The Huns an important addition, packed with information drawing together all the research known about the Huns. The Huns joins other 'Peoples of Europe' titles but stands well alone, providing an excellent review of the presence and effects of the Huns in European history.