Overview

Considered by many to be the most important philosopher ever, Plato was born into a well-to-do family in wartime Athens at the end of the fifth century BCE. He finally decided to go into politics, but became disillusioned, especially after the Athenians condemned his teacher, Socrates, to death. He began teaching in his twenties and later founded the Academy, the world's first higher-educational research and teaching establishment. Eventually, he returned to practical politics and spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to create a constitution for Syracuse in Sicily that would reflect and perpetuate some of his political ideals. The attempts failed, and Plato's disappointment can be traced in some of his later political works. In his lifetime and after, Plato was considered almost divine. This led to the invention of many tall tales about him-both by those who adored him and his detractors. In this first ever full-length portrait of Plato, Robin Waterfield steers a judicious course among these stories, debunking some while accepting the kernels of truth in others. He explains why Plato chose to write dialogues rather than treatises and gives an overview of the subject matter of all of Plato's books. Clearly and engagingly written throughout, Plato of Athens is the perfect introduction to the man and his work.

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Robin Waterfield is an independent scholar and translator living in southern Greece. Among his numerous translations of Greek works are Plato's Symposium, Gorgias, and Republic, all published in the Oxford World's Classics series. His other works of history include Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens: A History of Ancient Greece and Taken at the Flood: The Roman Conquest of Greece. Tristam Summers is a stage and screen actor who graduated from London's prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He has received numerous acting award nominations, in addition to winning both the Best Actor and Jury's Award at the Orlando Film Festival. His voice-over work ranges from nationwide commercials (UK voice of Apple) to sketch shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the narration and production of many Audible titles, including the five-star rated The Three Musketeers. A master of accents, with a talent for creating well-rounded and distinct characters, Tristam is an engaging reader with a voice that lends itself equally to fiction and nonfiction.

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