In unraveling the long-hidden issues of the most famous free speech case of all time, noted author I.F. Stone ranges far and wide over Roman as well as Greek history to present an engaging and rewarding introduction to classical antiquity and its relevance to society today. The New York Times called this national best-seller an "intellectual thriller."
Editorial Reviews
“Once in a great while a book has me murmuring in excitement as I read it. The Trial of Socrates is that book. It is an intellectual thriller, bringing the character and the community of ancient Athens to life as it cuts through mystery and paradox. And shining through it is the passion of I.F. Stone for learning, justice and freedom.” -Anthony Lewis of the New York Times
“The Trial of Socrates is a lovely work, which not only endorses the Athenian ideals but exemplifies them. Stone’s confident use of the sources, his moral certainty, and his stalwart faith in the decency of a free populace serve him well as he seeks to grab the philosopher by the ankles and drag him down to earth where life and treachery and politics are all played for keeps.” -The Village Voice
“A challenging investigative probe of the evidence.” -The Atlantic
“The Trial of Socrates is a fascinating examination of ancient Athens and the society where so many of our ideas of democratic government and free speech were born.” -Los Angeles Times Book Review
“Stone has written a book that belongs next to Plato’s dialogues.” -Christian Science Monitor
About the Author
I. F. Stone was an investigative journalist and writer, best remembered for his newsletter I. F. Stone’s Weekly, which was ranked by New York University in 16th place among the top 100 works of journalism in the United States in the twentieth century. He won numerous awards, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Award, the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Award, the Columbia University Journalism Award, and the American Civil Liberties Union Award. He died in 1989.
