The Hemlock Cup

Name: The Hemlock Cup
Brand: Hachette UK
Availability: InStock
Author: Bettany Hughes
ISBN: 9781399625388

Author: Bettany Hughes

Narrator: Bettany Hughes

Unabridged: 17 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Published: 06/26/2025

Categories: Nonfiction, History, Greece History

Synopsis

'Terrific and passionate writing about a philosopher whose heroism is unquestionable . . . and as lively and learned an introduction to classical Athens as you could want' - Daily Telegraph

In The Hemlock Cup, award-winning historian Bettany Hughes brings to vivid life one of the most influential thinkers the world has ever known: Socrates of Athens. A maverick philosopher who philosophised in squares and public arenas rather than the courts of kings, Socrates left his indelible mark on the entirety of Western civilisation - yet the life of the man himself is shrouded in mystery.

What would life have been like in the Athens of Socrates's youth? How did the Socratic method come to dominate the way we think and learn? And what can Socrates teach us about how we should live? Drawing on fresh evidence and the latest archaeological discoveries, Bettany Hughes finally gives Socrates the biography he deserves - and shows just how relevant he remains to this day.

About Bettany Hughes

Bettany Hughes is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster. Her previous books include Venus and Aphrodite (shortlisted for the Runciman Award), Istanbul (a Sunday Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Runciman Award), The Hemlock Cup (a New York Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Writers Guild award) and Helen Of Troy. All her books have been translated into multiple languages. She has made many documentaries for the BBC, Channel 4, PBS, National Geographic, ABC and the Discovery and History channels. Bettany has been a Professor at the New College of Humanities and Research Fellow at King's College London. She has been honoured with numerous awards including the Medlicott Medal for services to history, Europe's Cultural Heritage Prize and an OBE for services to history.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Linda on March 26, 2021

4.5 One of Athens's dearest held tenets was that free individuals in a democracy should, where possible, enjoy the freedom of expression. This was fine in theory, but in a tight-knit community, freedom of speech can quickly degenerate into gossip and slander. And slander is against the law. Athens wa......more

Goodreads review by Nicky on May 30, 2015

I got Bettany Hughes’ books because when I graduated from my BA, she was awarded an honorary fellowship by my university. So naturally, after her speech, I was curious about her work. My problem with her book on Helen of Troy was mostly the organisation, and I had that problem again too; she begins......more

Goodreads review by Storyjunkie on February 26, 2012

The Hemlock Cup is actually three narratives in one book: the physicality and history of Athens during Socrates' life, a largely-guesswork biography of Socrates, and a guided tour through the digs in modern Greece that resulted in the foundations for a lot of Bettany Hughes' supposition. Each chapter......more

Goodreads review by Ken on December 11, 2012

This book is an incredible accomplishment, exhaustively researched and notated, weaving together knowledge from an incredible array of sources such as Thucydides, Xenophon, and Plato, as well as contemporary research and archaeology. It weaves a compelling story and picture of the places and people......more

Goodreads review by Ellana on May 09, 2019

Bettany Hughes has a unique ability to give all the facts while still putting you right in the middle of the action.......more