The Trial of Socrates

by Don Nardo

Grade 7-10. By covering the social, legal, and political realities surrounding famous trials, these series entries provide contextual overviews of the cases that have delineated concepts of law and justice in Western civilization. Both books benefit from the inclusion of archival drawings and reproductions and sidebar quotations from primary sources. Nardo traces the life and times of the ancient Athenian and shows the lasting influence of his ideas. Drawing on scholarly works such as I. F. Stone's The Trial of Socrates (Doubleday, 1989), this shorter volume introduces the story and legacy of the philosopher in a more accessible format. Although Rice's account of The Salem Witch Trials is accurate, the meaning of these events becomes obscured by the discussion of dozens of individuals and local figures. This examination of detail works better in texts such as Frances Hill's A Delusion of Satan (Doubleday, 1995), whereas clearer explanations of the hysteria for young people can be found in Laurel Van der Linde's The Devil in Salem Village (Millbrook, 1992) or Shirley Jackson's classic The Witchcraft of Salem Village (Random, 1963).

Genres: History

96 pages, Library Binding

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Don Nardo (born February 22, 1947) is an American historian, composer, and writer. With close to four hundred and fifty published books, he is one of the most prolific authors in the United States, and one of the country's foremost writers of historical works for children and teens.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although described as “Grade 7-10,” this quite brilliant introduction to Socrates' trial can be for readers of any level who are just beginning to read Plato or study Socrates' life. Nardo provides a clear understanding of the social and cultural contexts of Athens, a brief summary of Socrates’ life leading up to the trial, and a thorough narrative of the trial and what its outcome meant for the Western world. Nardo quotes extensively from primary sources (Plato and Xenophon) as well as essential secondary sources. His brief annotated bibliography points readers to other works, making this the perfect starting point for understanding Socrates. I would recommend reading this alongside the key Platonic dialogues dealing with Socrates’ trial and execution before diving into more lengthy and scholarly works (with Nardo's bibliography as a guide). I was so impressed that I marked down Nardo's name to check out some of his other books as introductions to various historical topics.

[Steven Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting exposition, especially with supporting passages from Plato's dialogues.