Intended solely for personal consolation, the Roman Emperor’s philosophical maxims have become a beloved source of comfort and wisdom to millions due to their enduring insight and universality.
'Their icy blasts are refreshing and restorative. They tell you the worst. And having heard the worst, you feel less bad' Blake Morrison
Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the emperor struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. While the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation and encouragement, Marcus Aurelius also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and readers throughout the centuries.
Translated with notes by MARTIN HAMMOND with an Introduction by DISKIN CLAY
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 9780140449334
Number of pages: 304
Weight: 224 g
Dimensions: 199 x 129 x 18 mm
Martin Hammond's translation of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, like his Iliad and Odyssey, is the work of an unusually gifted translator, and one who understands the value added by careful attention to supplementary material. He writes natural English, direct and often eloquent; the text is well supported by effective notes and a characteristically thorough and well-planned index; Diskin Clay supplies a useful introduction. This is a fine volume - Malcolm Heath, Greece & Rome Journal
Marcus is well served by this new translation. Hammond has a pithy turn of phrase to match the emperor's own . . . His notes abound in helpful explanation and illuminating cross-reference. Diskin Clay contributes a sparkling and sympathetic introduction. The combination of introduction, translation and notes is as good as they get - John Taylor, Journal of Classics Teaching
This book will soon become an essential item to carry around with you for a quick glance now and again - solace and wisdom can seldom be found so readily in such brief writings. It will teach you how to think, act and... More
I've been curious about this book for a long time but kept putting it off, thinking it would be too dense and too hard to read. Wrong! I'm left with a vision of a modern-day man, writing thoughts on Post-It... More
The meditations are a collection of his thoughts and notes written for himself. So not a systematic philosophy that you will find in other works. You'll read of recurring themes that he continued to remind... More
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