Demosthenes of Athens and the Fall of Classical Greece

Reviews / Votes

This is a gripping story of Macedonian ascendance, Athenian retrenchmentand the efforts of a gifted, but flawed Demosthenes to reverse the course of history. In both accessible and erudite fashion, Ian Worthington guides us through the labyrinth of Greek and Macedonian politics, and the result is not only first-rate history, but lessons for any ageours especiallywhen the fear of civilizational decline, and its supposed remedies, become near obsessions. * Victor Davis Hanson, Senior Fellow, Classics and Military History, the Hoover Institution, Stanford University * Demosthenes life is a powerful case study of the conflict between democracy and monarchy, and this book will be welcomed by both scholars and non-specialist readers because it is highly accessible, fair in its treatment of controversial issues, yet not afraid to state an opinion. A must-read for anyone interested in ancient politics and rhetoric. * Joseph Roisman, Professor of Classics, Colby College * 'Look to the end', went the ancient Greek motto, and the suicidal end of Professor Worthington's subject was far from ignoble, like much of his actively democratic political life, which is here thoroughly investigated, persuasively estimated, and ultimately celebrated as that of one who stood bravely against tyranny. * Paul Cartledge, A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, Cambridge University * Ian Worthington ... is one of the leading Demosthenes experts and this impressive monograph is the fruit of well over a quarter of a century's hard graft. Few scholars are as well equipped as he to take us through Demosthenes' voluminous surviving writings. * Paul Cartledge, History Today * This is a useful volume, with much to recommend it: good coverage of the detail, good analysis of the changing priorities behind Demosthenes' intentions and actions over time, good notes and suggestions for further reading, handy maps and timelines, lists of relevant speeches and appendices of ancient money and months of the year. * Michael Scott, The Anglo-Hellenic Review *