Lives, Volume IV: Alcibiades and Coriolanus. Lysander and Sulla

Lives

by Plutarch, Bernadotte Perrin (Translator)

Plutarch (Plutarchus), ca. 45–120 CE, was born at Chaeronea in Boeotia in central Greece, studied philosophy at Athens, and, after coming to Rome as a teacher in philosophy, was given consular rank by the emperor Trajan and a procuratorship in Greece by Hadrian. He was married and the father of one daughter and four sons. He appears as a man of kindly character and independent thought, studious and learned.

Plutarch wrote on many subjects. Most popular have always been the 46 Parallel Lives, biographies planned to be ethical examples in pairs (in each pair, one Greek figure and one similar Roman), though the last four lives are single. All are invaluable sources of our knowledge of the lives and characters of Greek and Roman statesmen, soldiers and orators. Plutarch’s many other varied extant works, about 60 in number, are known as Moralia or Moral Essays. They are of high literary value, besides being of great use to people interested in philosophy, ethics, and religion.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of the Lives is in eleven volumes.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Classics

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 120

About the author

Plutarch (later named, upon becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus; AD 46–AD 120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. He is classified as a Middle Platonist. Plutarch's surviving works were written in Greek, but intended for both Greek and Roman readers.

Reviews

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally started reading this as a way to learn about Caius Marcius Corialanus, the subject of Shakespeare's play. Part because I wanted to go see the movie Ralph Fiennes was doing.

I'm glad I started reading it, I plan on reading the entire series that Plutarch completed. I've already downloaded the whole thing. Look forward to learning more about this.

[Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading about Alcibiades, who is of interest of me, because he is utterly fascinating. Plutarch provides a lot of useful information, but he is a teacher rather than a storyteller. Dense, stilted Greek, effective but stiff style, a book to study rather than to enjoy.

[jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plutarch's Lives are sensational. Alcibiades and Coriolanus, Lysander and Sulla in this volume, are no exception. Each life is fascinating. To be sure, some knowledge of the period, geography, a little if not a lot of the language (Greek) is sure to enhance your interest and the value to you. Yet armed with an interest to discover and enjoy is all that is required to derive great pleasure from the author's history of storied persons and the impact of their role in old world events. Plutarch himself an author of the late first century early second (45-120 AD) takes you in a time machine to people, times, and places, very different from our own. There is much to learned by comparison and contrast, insights to be gained not only into their times but our times, besides an understanding of the particular history, culture, war craft, and more. Yes, Plutarch's Lives, are more than stories, but stories they are and they "live" because of human interest and the commonality of human nature. These biographies, of famous Greeks and Romans arranged in pairs, were intended to illustrate moral virtues and vices, and to be read by leaders and rulers that they might glean wisdom for leading and living in their own generation. So get going; you won't be disappointed.

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colorful lives, lots of drama. Alcibiades and Coriolanus, saviors of their cities, meet with ingratitude and so switch sides and lead the enemy against their hometowns. Alcibiades does it with more flair, fathering a child by the queen of Sparta along the way.

Lysander and Sulla were up to their necks in civil war, and their victories ushered in ruin. But Lysander stands out as a bigger scumbag than most.

[Станислав · Rating 4 out of 5]

Отличнейший том. Все четыре биографии очень интересные. Самая не интересная - это Кориолан, поскольку это всё кажется такими разборками деревня на деревню. Но учитывая пьесу Шекспира и особенно отличную экранизацию - тоже достойно ознакомления. Два полководца, которые сначала стали героями и после обратились против своей родины. И два полководца, которые почти захватили власть у себя на родине.

[ava]

i hope my classics teacher never smiles again