A Companion to Plutarch offers a broad survey of the famous historian and biographer; a coherent, comprehensive, and elegant presentation of Plutarch’s thought and influence

 

• Constitutes the first survey of its kind, a unified and accessible guide that offers a comprehensive discussion of all major aspects of Plutarch’s oeuvre
• Provides essential background information on Plutarch’s world, including his own circle of influential friends (Greek and Roman), his travels, his political activity, and his relations with Trajan and other emperors
• Offers contextualizing background, the literary and cultural details that shed light on some of the fundamental aspects of Plutarch’s thought
• Surveys the ideologically crucial reception of the Greek Classical Period in Plutarch’s writings
• Follows the currents of recent serious scholarship, discussing perennial interests, and delving into topics and works not formerly given serious attention
  

Mark Beck is Associate Professor of Classics at the University of South Carolina, where he teaches courses on Greek and Roman authors and classical civilization courses. He has published numerous articles and chapters on Plutarch and is the author of the forthcoming book, Understanding Classics: Plutarch (2012).