The Lawgivers: The Parallel lives of Numa Pompilius and Lycurgus of Sparta

by David V. Hicks, C. Scot Hicks

Long considered an essential title in classical literature, Plutarch s Lives have, unfortunately, fallen out of favor among many contemporary readers and educators. Most translations have rendered Plutarch s original language, which is so energetic in the Greek, quite dryly in English, thus relegating these classic tales to the dusty bookshelves of specialists. However, this new translation by C. Scot Hicks and David V. Hicks (The Emperor s Handbook) brings Plutarch s original tales to life, making them accessible for today s readers and students thanks to their highly readable rendition of Plutarch s prose. Featuring thorough commentary on the historical context of these two great men, maps, illustrations, and more, The Lawgivers will introduce a new generation of readers to this truly essential and enjoyable writer.

Genres: School, Biography Memoir, History, Classics, Education

167 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2019

Reviews

[Jill Courser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this aloud to my 5 boys during our daily Morning Time practice. We all enjoyed the translation - very readable, much easier to comprehend than others we have used, while maintaining historical depth. The notes were also very helpful for understanding cultural context. Highly recommend, and hoping Circe publishes more of the Lives soon!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable translation of Plutarch. A perfect companion for middle school and high school students. The beginning essay of why bother studying Plutarch is worth the price of the book alone. Highly recommend.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best Plutarch translation we’ve read so far!

[Tana · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've wanted to read Plutarch but are put off by the difficulty of the text, this is a great place to start. The Hicks brothers have come up with a very readable translation of two lives: Lycurgus and Numa Pompilius. I read this aloud to my kids (11th, 8th, and 5th grades) and we have many a lively discussion about things these men did and whether they would be good ideas in our society today.

[Brandon LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Admitted Bias: I work for the publisher*

I loved this translation. Incredibly readable and well footnoted without being overly cumbersome. The Hicks brothers did a great job and the lay out is great for study and notes. This is a great foray into Plutarch's lives and the great benefit of contemplating these comparisons centuries after they were first written.

[Michelle Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: i have not finished reading this all, yet. What i have read is super readable and understandable, far more so than other Plutarch translations i have read (North). My 11 &12 yo and I were reading this together, and my 12 yo especially really loved how easy to understand this was. She wanted to continue! Unfortunately, i was not as thrilled with the content of these particular lives for the ages of my girls just yet. I decided partway through Life 1 (Lycurgus) to set this one aside until High School. At that age, i feel the discussions about these lives will be much better suited to their maturity level. Lycurgus/Sparta was a fascinating read in some respects but i just didnt feel it was quite the right time for some of these discussions with my younger kids. (ie lots of sexual things going on in Sparta--things i feel are well worth disucussing! but at the right time). We will continue using Anne White's wonderful study guides for any Plutarch studies in the late elementary/middle school years.

[Heather Gorsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second Plutarch read and my first time teaching through the Hick’s brothers translation to a group of students! It was a huge success - everyone loved the translation and I just omitted a few things I thought inappropriate for my classes age.

I feel like I hear about Lycurgus everywhere now that I’ve read about him. He’s mentioned in Charlotte Mason’s volumes, Alexander Hamilton’s, and George Washington’s biographies - I’m sure more will make itself known now that I’m familiar with the name.

I’m so glad the Hicks brothers are continuing this series. I’m looking forward to teaching The Statesman next year and The Tyrant the following!

[Maria Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best version of these Lives out there!