Bettany Hughes Video Journal: The Hemlock Cup, My New Book about Socrates - Preview

Submitted by Bettany Hughes on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 12:49

I've spent the past decade retracing the steps of the great ancient philosopher Socrates, following his journey across Greece and Asia Minor, and examining the new archaeological discoveries that shed light on his world as part as the research for my new book "The Hemlock Cup".

As I arrived at my publishers to see the first ever copy of the book, which is released on October 7th (buy the book), I took a few moments to update my Heritage Key Video Journal (watch the video now) with an exclusive reading of an excerpt about Socrates' life.

You can also read my interview with Heritage Key about the new book, Socrates and promoting classics and history in education.

Socrates was an immensely influential figure, not just in the Western world where he lived and contributed to Athens' Golden Age which gave rise to important concepts of contemporary civilisation – democracy, liberty, science, drama, rational thought, but also in the East where he had an key impact on the development of thought in Islam.

But Socrates was not only a philosopher - he was a soldier, a lover and a man of the people. As he never wrote anything in his lifetime, he is an enigmatic figure who never spoke in great educational establishments or in the courts of emperors, but opted to philosophise in the squares and public arenas of Athens. But the freedom of speech celebrated in the Athenian state where Socrates was a citizen for 70 years would turn on the great philosopher, who was condemned by the city to drink hemlock posion for freely speaking his mind.

Video Journal: Bettany Hughes on Socrates and "The Hemlock Cup"

(Click here to read the transcript of this video.)

You can keep up with the latest from Bettany Hughes on Heritage Key, such as her first entry into her Heritage Key Video Journal, her interview with Malcolm on Socrates & bringing Ancient History into the 20th Century!

'The Hemlock Cup' hits the stores (and Amazon) October 7th. It is not 'merely' a Socrates biography; using a unique combination of archaeological, geological and historical clues, the book recreates for the reader the world of Socrates with a vivacity not before achieved.

Bettany Hughes visited every spot were the philosopher was said to have walked, loved, fought and philosophised and investigated the many digs that are uncovering the world of 'Golden Age' Athens. She brings this fresh evidence to bear on the life of the man whose idea 'the unexamined life is not worth living' is thought to be at the root of what it is to live in the 21st century.

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About The Author

Bettany Hughes (follow me:

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Last three pieces by this author:

Bettany Hughes Video Journal: Socrates, Sappho, Aryans and more

Bettany Hughes is a well-known British popular historian, lecturer, broadcaster and author, who has written and presented numerous historical TV and radio documentaries for the BBC, The History Channel and Channel 4. Her first book, Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princes, Whore was published in 2005; her second, on the life…

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