Dramatic artist, natural scientist and philosopher, Plutarch is widely
regarded as the most significant historian of his era, writing sharp and
succinct accounts of the greatest politicians and statesman of the
classical period. Taken from The Lives, a series of biographies
spanning the Graeco-Roman age, this collection illuminates the twilight
of the old Roman Republic from 157-43 BC. Whether describing the
would-be dictators Marius and Sulla, the battle between Crassus and
Spartacus, the death of political idealist Crato, Julius Caesar's
harrowing triumph in Gaul or the eloquent oratory of Cicero, all offer a
fascinating insight into an empire wracked by political divisions.
Deeply influential on Shakespeare and many other later writers, they
continue to fascinate today with their exploration of corruption,
decadence and the struggle for ultimate power.
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.