Author : Ian Worthington
Release : 2013-01-17
Genre : Biography & Autobiography
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 95X/5 ( reviews)

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Book Synopsis Demosthenes of Athens and the Fall of Classical Greece by : Ian Worthington

Download or read book Demosthenes of Athens and the Fall of Classical Greece written by Ian Worthington. This book was released on 2013-01-17. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Demosthenes (384-322 BC) lived through and profoundly shaped one of the most eventful epochs in antiquity. His political career spanned three decades, during which time Greece fell victim to Macedonian control, first under Philip II and then Alexander the Great. Demosthenes' resolute and courageous defiance of Philip cost him his life but earned for him a reputation as one of history's outstanding patriots. He also enjoyed a brilliant and lucrative career as a speechwriter, and his rhetorical skills are still emulated today by students and politicians alike. Yet he was a sickly child with an embarrassing speech impediment, who was swindled out of much of his family's estate by unscrupulous guardians after the death of his father. His story is therefore one of triumph over adversity. In this new biography--the first ever written in English for a popular audience--historian Ian Worthington brings the great orator's career vividly to life. He provides a moving narrative of Demosthenes' humble and difficult beginnings, the obstacles he faced in his public career, the fierce rivalries with other Athenian politicians, his successes and failures, and finally his posthumous influence as a politician and orator. In doing so, the author offers new insights into Demosthenes' motives and how he shaped his policy to achieve political power. Set against the rich backdrop of late classical Greece and Macedonia, this biography will appeal to all readers interested in ancient history.