Sharon Bonsack, age 9, of Shelby, Neb., for her question:

WHAT IS ANABASIS?

Anabasis is the name of a report written about 400 B.C. by a Greek soldier historian named Xenophon. Xenophon was born as a member of a noble family and studied under Socrates. He joined a band of Greek adventurers that wanted to seize the throne of Persia. The leader of the group was killed and the 10,000 Greek adventurers were stranded in a strange country without commanders. They chose Xenophon to lead their retreat.

In Anabasis, which is actually a history of an expedition, Xenophon describes the 1,500 mile march back to safety.

Xenophon eventually became independently wealthy and devoted his life to writing. Among his efforts is a history of Greece called Hellenica and an account of the life and teachings of Socrates called Memorabilia of Socrates.