Selections from one of the greatest essayists of the Graeco-Roman
world
Plutarch used an encyclopedic knowledge of the Roman Empire to produce a
compelling and individual voice. In this superb selection from his
writings, he offers personal insights into moral subjects that include
the virtue of listening, the danger of flattery and the avoidance of
anger, alongside more speculative essays on themes as diverse as God's
slowness to punish man, the use of reason by supposedly "irrational"
animals and the death of his own daughter. Brilliantly informed, these
essays offer a treasure-trove of ancient wisdom, myth and philosophy,
and a powerful insight into a deeply intelligent man.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of
classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700
titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works
throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the
series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and
notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as
up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.