AboutFrancesco Marchesani Expertise I have an indeep knowledge of European history, expecially Ancient, Roman and Medieval history. I focus my attention on military history as well; I have access to a university library with many ancient books.
Experience Mainly through self study (other than my university studies in laws) I have acquired a good knowledge of the topic, which I enjoy further study.
Question Dear Francesco I study Alexander The Great and i just purchsed two books called Plutarch's lives 1 and 2 .The question is that i was also going to purchase Plutarch's books "On Sparta,The Rise and Fall of Athens,The Fall of the Roman Republic and Makers of Rome! My question is are Plutarch's two books "Plutarch's Lives" the very same four books i just mentioned that i am considering purchasing? I imagine you think this is a very dumb question but i am very ignorant about Plutarch! thank you Very much
Answer Hello,
I guess those books are a collection of different books and essays by Plutarch: "Parallel Lives" is a series of biographies of ancient men organized in tandem (one Roman and one Greek), to compare their respective lives and achievements.; these would be covered by the 2 Plutarch's Lives.
He also wrote "Morals", a collection of philosophical and moral essays, and some of these essays might be the source of the other 4 books.
So if your interest is mainly about Alexander, you might want to read the Parallel Lives' entry about Alexander-Caesar, and maybe browse the other 4 books to find the essay "On the Fortune or Virtue of Alexander the Great".
