Demosthenes and His Time: A Study in Defeat [Hardcover]

Raphael Sealey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195079280 | ISBN-13: 978-0195079289 | Publication Date: March 18, 1993

This book draws on a wide range of evidence to study the history of Athens from 386 to 322 B.C. Taking a sympathetic view of the Second Athenian League, Sealey focuses on the career of Demosthenes to provide important insights into Athenian politics and policies. Demosthenes experienced repeated setbacks in his early attempts at public activity, but found his mission as a statesman in the conflict with Macedon and subsequently became the leading man in Athens. Sealey rejects theories that assume programmatic divisions among Athenian statesmen into pro- and anti-Macedonians, and argues that all Athenians active in politics resented Macedonian ascendancy but recognized the necessity of accommodation to superior power. His account concludes with the defeat of Athens and its allies and the suicide of Demosthenes, presenting new insights not only into the life of Demosthenes and the turbulent years of his political career, but also the social and international factors bearing on Athenian political activity in general.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"General readers as well as students at all levels will benefit from the text, faculty from the notes and appendixes."--Choice

"Recent years have seen the publication of a series of significant works dealing with fourth century topics. Demosthenes and His Time is a welcome addition to this growing list....A more realistic picture of the strengths and weaknesses of Demosthenes as a politician than we have had before, but also perceptive analyses of many of his contemporaries....Every teacher of Greek history will profit."--The Classical Outlook

"This is the first major study on the life and times of Demosthenes in over fifty years.... Our guide in this book has remarkable mastery over the subject and can offer many worthwhile insights....For superb formulations...and for its overall excellence, it is indeed difficult not to like this book."--New England Classical Newsletter and Journal

"In this first comprehensive study of the career of Demosthenes in over half a century, Sealey provides an indispensable guide to Athenian politics in the fourth century....This will be the standard work in the future for all serious students of Greek political history in the fourth century."--Religious Studies Review

"There is much to be pondered upon in the book and peppered throughout it are new and provocative ideas."--The Classical Review

"...Sealey's discussions of such topics as the idea of 'government', the interpretation of politics as driven by personal dynamics as opposed to ideology, and the problems of interpreting the Attic orators will enrich the work of students and scholars alike."--Ancient History Bulletin

About the Author

Raphael Sealey is at University of California, Berkeley.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 18, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195079280
• ISBN-13: 978-0195079289
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,485,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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