The tragic story of ancient Greece's last democratic leader and his doomed fight to save Athens from Macedonian domination
In the spring of 340 BCE, news arrived that Philip of Macedon had seized a town in central Greece, a base from which he could march on Athens. In the fierce debates about how to respond to the rising threat in the north, Demosthenes, the greatest orator of his day, convinced the Athenian Assembly to confront Philip on the field of battle. Though that effort failed and Athens fell into the grip of Alexander the Great, Philip's son and successor, Demosthenes had established himself as one of history's most eloquent defenders of democracy.
In this thrilling biography of the man who led the charge for Greek freedom, James Romm follows Demosthenes from his early career as a legal speech writer through his rise in politics, his fall from grace in a corruption scandal, and his desperate flight to the island of Calauria-where he took his own life rather than submit to Macedonian forces. As he brings to life the bare-knuckle, insult-filled verbal brawls of Athenian orators, Romm not only explores the mind of the man who took on the challenge of saving Greek freedom but also shows how democracies can be destroyed by infighting and internal division.
| ISBN: | 9780300269383 |
| Publication date: | 14th November 2025 |
| Author: | James S Romm |
| Publisher: | Yale University Press |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 208 pages |
| Series: | Ancient Lives |
| Genres: |
Biography: historical, political and military European history Ancient history Political leaders and leadership |
The tragic story of ancient Greece's last democratic leader and his doomed fight to save Athens from Macedonian domination
In the spring of 340 BCE, news arrived that Philip of Macedon had seized a town in central Greece, a base from which he could march on Athens. In the fierce debates about how to respond to the rising threat in the north, Demosthenes, the greatest orator of his day, convinced the Athenian Assembly to confront Philip on the field of battle. Though that effort failed and Athens fell into the grip of Alexander the Great, Philip's son and successor, Demosthenes had established himself as one of history's most eloquent defenders of democracy.
In this thrilling biography of the man who led the charge for Greek freedom, James Romm follows Demosthenes from his early career as a legal speech writer through his rise in politics, his fall from grace in a corruption scandal, and his desperate flight to the island of Calauria-where he took his own life rather than submit to Macedonian forces. As he brings to life the bare-knuckle, insult-filled verbal brawls of Athenian orators, Romm not only explores the mind of the man who took on the challenge of saving Greek freedom but also shows how democracies can be destroyed by infighting and internal division.
Demosthenes features in the following genres: Biography: historical, political and military, European history, Ancient history, Political leaders and leadership
Demosthenes is available in Hardback
Demosthenes was written by James S Romm and published by Yale University Press
Demosthenes has 208 pages
Yes it is part of Ancient Lives series
£17.09