G. Lowes Dickinson (1862–1932)

He draws some conclusions worth consideration, though others have done better. But: “About the whole scene there is a freshness and a fragrance as of early morning, and a tone so natural, free and frank, that in the face of this rustic idyl the later centuries sicken and faint, like candle-light in the splendour of the dawn.” Puuhhh-leeease! By the end of the book these flourishes have gotten to be like fingernails on a chalkboard. He also sees a fatal flaw at the core of the Greek show more ideal, which ultimately undermines the splendiferous miracle. Then, without another word on the pesky little flaw, he holds the ideal up as a model for a glorious future. Um, okay…. At least his idealization of ancient pedophilia is heartwarming. If you don’t have an obsession with Ancient Greece, you might want to skip this one. show less

This is a relatively short book, at 159 pages, which aims to give an overview of several of Plato's dialogues, with chapters on Socrates, The Republic, The Laws, and some more general chapters, which touch on other works. None of the complete dialogues are included, but passages from them are presented and discussed, in a way which highlights important or interesting parts, so that the reader may understand the general messages in them. As an introduction to Plato's dialogues, this book is show more fantastic, but it will probably leave the reader wanting to read the dialogues in full, and is as such merely an introduction. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to someone wanting to read Plato for the first time, or to someone who wanted to understand some of his thinking without reading through the whole works. show less

Admirably equal-handed political discussion which taught me, among other things, that I was a Disraelian conservative

I gotr this chiefly because I greatly enjoyed Dickinson's Modern Symposium setting out the rival political philosophies in Britain about 100 years ago.