The Shorter Writings

by Xenophon, Gregory A. McBrayer (Editor/Translator)

This book contains new, annotated, and literal yet accessible translations of Xenophon's eight shorter writings, accompanied by interpretive essays that reveal these works to be masterful achievements by a serious thinker of the first rank who raises important moral, political, and philosophical questions. Five of these shorter writings are unmistakably devoted to political matters. The Agesilaos is a eulogy of a Spartan king, and the Hiero, or the Skilled Tyrant recounts a searching dialogue between a poet and a tyrant. The Regime of the Lacedaemonians presents itself as a laudatory examination of what turns out to be an oligarchic regime of a certain type, while The Regime of the Athenians offers an unflattering picture of a democratic regime. Ways and Means, or On Revenues offers suggestions on how to improve the political economy of Athens' troubled democracy.

The other three works included here--The Skilled Cavalry Commander, On Horsemanship, and The One Skilled at Hunting with Dogs--treat skills deemed appropriate for soldiers and leaders, touching on matters of political importance, especially in regard to war. By bringing together Xenophon's shorter writings, this volume aims to help those interested in Xenophon to better understand the core of his thought, political as well as philosophical.

Interpretive essays by: Wayne Ambler, Robert C. Bartlett, Amy L. Bonnette, Susan D. Collins, Michael Ehrmantraut, David Levy, Gregory A. McBrayer, Abram N. Shulsky.

Genres: Philosophy

414 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2018

About the author

Xenophon (Ancient Greek Ξενοφῶν, Modern Greek Ξενοφώντας; ca. 431 – 355 BC), son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, was a soldier, mercenary and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates. He is known for his writings on the history of his own times, preserving the sayings of Socrates, and the life of ancient Greece.

Historical and biographical works:
Anabasis (or The Persian Expedition)
Cyropaedia
Hellenica
Agesilaus

Socratic works and dialogues:
Memorabilia
Oeconomicus
Symposium
Apology
Hiero

Short treatises:
On Horsemanship
The Cavalry General
Hunting with Dogs
Ways and Means
Constitution of Sparta

Reviews

[Readinglist45 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains 8 different writings by Xenophon
1. Hiero, or the skilled tyrant
2. Agesilaus
3. Regime of the Lacadaemionians
4. Regime of the Athenians
5. Ways and means, or on revenues
6. The skilled cavalry commander
7. On horsemanship
8. The one skilled at hunting with dogs

While these are not historical memoirs like the Anabasis or the Helenica, they do give insight into life in ancient Greece and help bring long dead people to life, and they show Xenophon's own beliefs and thoughts (this is particularly noticeable when he discusses sophists in the dog hunting portion) which may be beneficial when reading his other writings.

Overall the translations are very readable. I cannot judge the essays written by modern scholars as I did not read those but there is one after each section.