The Trials of Socrates: Six Classic Texts [Paperback]

C. D. C. Reeve (Author, Editor), Peter Meineck (Editor), James Doyle (Editor), Plato (Editor), Aristophanes (Editor), Xenophon (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0872205894 | ISBN-13: 978-0872205895 | Publication Date: March 1, 2002

Lampooned in 406 B.C.E. in a blistering Aristophanic satire, Socrates was tried in 399 B.C.E. on a charge of corrupting the youth, convicted by a jury of about five hundred of his peers, and condemned to death. Glimpsed today through the extant writings of his contemporaries and near-contemporaries, he remains for us as compelling, enigmatic, and elusive a figure as Jesus or Buddha. Although present-day (like ancient Greek) opinion on "the real Socrates" diverges widely, six classic texts that any informed judgment of him must take into account appear together, for the first time, in this volume. Those of Plato and Xenophon appear in new, previously unpublished translations that combine accuracy, accessibility, and readability; that of Aristophanes' Clouds offers these same qualities in an unbowdlerized translation that captures brilliantly the bite of Aristophanes' wit. An Introduction to each text and judicious footnotes provide crucial background information and important cross-references.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Peter Meineck has produced a lively, idiomatic translation of Aristophanes that should be eminently accessible to the modern student. -- Thomas K. Hubbard, University of Texas, Autin

Reeve's translation . . . is careful and reliable; it captures the sense of the Greek in clear and idiomatic English. --Terence Irwin, Cornell University

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Greek --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hackett Pub Co (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872205894
• ISBN-13: 978-0872205895
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Death Of Socrates, August 31, 2008

By 

Steve Jackson "stevejackson100atyahoocom" (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Trials of Socrates: Six Classic Texts (Paperback)

This is an excellent idea--collect many of the key biographical works on the death (and life, to some extent) of Socrates in one volume. In one place you get EUTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRITO, PHAEDO (the death scene) as well as Aristophones' CLOUDS and Xenophon's SOCRATES' DEFENSE TO THE JURY.

I've been rereading the works of Plato after a hiatus of some years. Hackett's editions appear to be the best. They have good introductions, notes at the bottom of the page (where they are supposed to be), and are reasonably priced. My only complaint is that the margins could be a bit bigger for note taking.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A simple book that is good and inexpensive., May 4, 2009

By 

Matthew M Norris (Northen Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Trials of Socrates: Six Classic Texts (Paperback)

A few key points to make about this book, it is inexpensive, placed in a nice format and order and light weight. It is small, easily fits in my pack and there is some room at the top and bottom to write notes. Not to mention I don't feel bad about writing notes and highlighting because it is so inexpensive. It is a really simple book in terms of format and is accurate to the original texts; I'll let you decide if that is good or bad.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Book for Class, December 14, 2008

By 

R. Martin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Trials of Socrates: Six Classic Texts (Paperback)

Very good book...Given the proper instructor could help one realize how much in society today reloves around the Socratic method of questioning...