A review by crystalvaughan0603
The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens, and the Search for the Good Life by Bettany Hughes

4.0

I began this rather hefty tome thinking there wasn't much we could know about Socrates, because all we have of him are second-hand accounts. Imagine my pleasure when reading this when I realized Bettany Hughes was able to paint a picture of the "tantalizingly illusive" Socrates. He became a real person. Ms. Hughes' ability to create a such a compelling biography of Socrates is amazing. This novel is informative and entertaining. It is also, not only a biography of Socrates, but a biography of Athens, which becomes just as much a character as the humans Ms. Hughes writes about. Simply astounding! I recommend this book to anyone who wants to study history and philosophy.