Reviews
I am so, so happy to be able to read the book I wanted in my native language. Thank you for your help.
I just found out that the final volume was released, so I happily ordered it and received it today. I'm reading from volume 2, and it's interesting.
It has been over a year since I bought this. I should dive into reading it in the new year.
After reading the reviews, I found that praise for this book predominates, so I believe it is necessary to point out its flaws to balance things out. I purchased the complete set from Kyobo Bookstore as soon as it was released last year and began reading it; I am currently on Volume 5. Since I am reading thoroughly and only a little bit each day, my progress is very slow. Despite its many strengths, this book also contains numerous translation errors. To give an example from the section I am
How can one achieve what one desires, and how can one captivate people? And how should one cope when fate mercilessly casts oneself aside? The lives of the great statesmen and generals who adorned the early history of Europe provide the answers to these questions. This is precisely *Plutarch’s Lives* (hereinafter *Lives*). Consequently, this book is regarded as an encyclopedia of liberal arts, offering a comprehensive learning experience of early Western European history and culture, the
Today, I complete reading the five-volume set of Plutarch's Lives over a period of approximately three months. The beginning of Greek and Roman classics started with Homer's *Iliad* and *Odyssey*. I would rank perseverance as the most important prerequisite for reading these classics. Without foundational knowledge regarding the countless characters, ancient geopolitical locations, and historical backgrounds, it is difficult to make progress easily, and it is easy to give up halfway. The
There are too many mistranslations (or typos?) to boast that this is my first complete translation. It is particularly severe even when compared to other translations. It does not seem that the translator possesses extensive knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman history. Nevertheless, unlike other translations, it is an excellent translation that reads comfortably. However, claiming it is the "translator's life's work," as in the review below, is complete nonsense.
Setting aside the content, the layout and editing make it difficult to read, resembling old books or American Penguin Paperbacks. Attention needs to be paid to margins, letter spacing, and font weight.
I've only just started reading, but there is so much to learn. Since it's a hardcover, it's sturdy, and I think it's definitely worth owning.
I really like the craftsmanship of the book. From the luxurious hardcover binding and the art-like box set to the easy-to-read text layout.
Plutarch: Plutarch's Lives Set (Complete Translation)
How can one achieve what one desires, and how can one captivate people? And how should one cope when fate mercilessly casts oneself aside? The lives of the great statesmen and generals who adorned the early history of Europe provide the answers to these questions. This is precisely *Plutarch’s Lives* (hereinafter *Lives*). Consequently, this book is regarded as an encyclopedia of liberal arts, offering a comprehensive learning experience of early Western European history and culture, the conduct required of a leader, and human ethics. This is precisely why *Lives* remained a common core element of Western culture alongside the Bible and Greek tragedy until the early 20th century. Indeed, *Lives* exerted a profound influence not only on politicians and soldiers like Napoleon and Churchill, but also on the thoughts of various intellectuals such as Montaigne, Francis Bacon, and Rousseau, and provided great inspiration to writers including Shakespeare, Schiller, and Goethe. However, the moment this book shone brightest was when it was accepted literally as a form of "culture"—a means for navigating life. Beethoven, known to have enjoyed reading *The Lives of the Great Men*, is a prime example. In 1801, as his hearing was gradually failing, Beethoven remarked, “I sometimes cursed the Creator and my very existence. (However,) Plutarch taught me how to accept it.” This biography, which covers the lives of famous soldiers and politicians from ancient Greece and Rome—such as Romulus, the founder of Rome; Julius Caesar, the immortal leader; and Hannibal, considered one of the greatest strategists—is often compared to the Eastern *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. From Western political culture to artistic creation, the influence of this book is truly extensive.
Korean title: 플루타르코스 영웅전 세트(완역본)
Korean author: 플루타르코스
Korean publisher: 을유문화사
ISBN-13: 9788932474540
Reviews
I am so, so happy to be able to read the book I wanted in my native language. Thank you for your help.
I just found out that the final volume was released, so I happily ordered it and received it today. I'm reading from volume 2, and it's interesting.
It has been over a year since I bought this. I should dive into reading it in the new year.
After reading the reviews, I found that praise for this book predominates, so I believe it is necessary to point out its flaws to balance things out. I purchased the complete set from Kyobo Bookstore as soon as it was released last year and began reading it; I am currently on Volume 5. Since I am reading thoroughly and only a little bit each day, my progress is very slow. Despite its many strengths, this book also contains numerous translation errors. To give an example from the section I am
How can one achieve what one desires, and how can one captivate people? And how should one cope when fate mercilessly casts oneself aside? The lives of the great statesmen and generals who adorned the early history of Europe provide the answers to these questions. This is precisely *Plutarch’s Lives* (hereinafter *Lives*). Consequently, this book is regarded as an encyclopedia of liberal arts, offering a comprehensive learning experience of early Western European history and culture, the
Today, I complete reading the five-volume set of Plutarch's Lives over a period of approximately three months. The beginning of Greek and Roman classics started with Homer's *Iliad* and *Odyssey*. I would rank perseverance as the most important prerequisite for reading these classics. Without foundational knowledge regarding the countless characters, ancient geopolitical locations, and historical backgrounds, it is difficult to make progress easily, and it is easy to give up halfway. The
There are too many mistranslations (or typos?) to boast that this is my first complete translation. It is particularly severe even when compared to other translations. It does not seem that the translator possesses extensive knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman history. Nevertheless, unlike other translations, it is an excellent translation that reads comfortably. However, claiming it is the "translator's life's work," as in the review below, is complete nonsense.
Setting aside the content, the layout and editing make it difficult to read, resembling old books or American Penguin Paperbacks. Attention needs to be paid to margins, letter spacing, and font weight.
I've only just started reading, but there is so much to learn. Since it's a hardcover, it's sturdy, and I think it's definitely worth owning.
I really like the craftsmanship of the book. From the luxurious hardcover binding and the art-like box set to the easy-to-read text layout.
