The Boys' and Girls' Plutarch: Being Parts of the "Lives" of Plutarch, Edited for Boys and Girls

In Short

This collection distills the essential moral and political biographies of classical antiquity for a younger audience. By pairing the lives of great Greeks with their Roman counterparts, the text explores the virtues and vices that shape empires. It recounts the triumphs of lawgivers, the brilliance of orators, and the strategic maneuvers of generals, all while grounding these grand historical arcs in the specific, often messy, choices of the individual. It has endured for centuries not merely as a record of dates and battles, but as a mirror for human nature, teaching that greatness is defined as much by a leader’s integrity as by their eventual success or failure.

The Story

The narrative begins in the misty, foundational era of legend. We follow Theseus, the hero-king of Athens, and Romulus, the fierce architect of Rome, both of whom navigate the transition from savage wilderness to organized society. These figures set the stage for the classical age, where law and oratory define the borders of power. We move through the Spartan rigor of Lycurgus, who enforces simplicity through few laws, and the Athenian wisdom of Solon, contrasted against the later, more volatile politics of the democratic age.

As the scope widens, the focus turns toward the clash of civilizations. Themistocles secures the maritime future of Greece against the Persians, establishing a legacy of resistance that echoes through the centuries. We witness the rise and fall of Pericles, whose leadership brings Athens to its zenith, only for the city to be tested by internal factionalism and the hubris of figures like Alcibiades. The tension between the state’s survival and the ambition of the individual becomes the primary engine of the narrative, moving from the political maneuvering of the Greek city-states to the unfolding gravity of the Roman Republic.

The story shifts inevitably to the grand scale of Rome. We see the career of Camillus, whose exile from the city he saved highlights the ingratitude of the mob, and the rise of Coriolanus, whose pride drives him to turn his sword against his own people. This middle period is marked by the struggle between the aristocracy and the commons, illustrated by the fable of the belly and the members, which bridges the gap between competing classes.

Finally, the arc reaches the twilight of the Republic and the dawn of empire. We follow the shifting fortunes of Pompey, a general of immense prestige, and his ultimate eclipse by Julius Caesar. The narrative captures the intensity of the civil wars, the cold brilliance of Cicero’s oratory, and the strategic mastery of Alexander the Great, whose short life reshapes the known world. The cycle concludes with the assassination of Caesar, an act that fails to restore the old order but instead triggers a period of chaos and divine retribution. The narrative leaves us with the sense that while individuals may command armies and cities, they are ultimately subject to the larger, inscrutable forces of fortune, leaving behind only their reputations as a final, brittle legacy.

How It Unfolds

The dawn of legends The accounts open with the semi-mythical founders of Athens and Rome, establishing the pattern of greatness that later historical figures must emulate. These early lives emphasize the role of gods and fate in shaping the destiny of primitive cities.

The Spartan and Athenian ideals The focus shifts to the legislative and military foundations of the Greek world. Lycurgus and Solon introduce systems of governance that prioritize brevity and justice, while Themistocles ensures the survival of the state through naval supremacy.

The corruption of success The narrative examines the toll that long-term power takes on leaders like Pericles and the mercurial Alcibiades. Wealth and luxury begin to erode the original, simpler virtues, leading to internal divisions and external defeats.

The Roman struggle for balance The story turns to the Republic, highlighting the constant friction between the senate and the common people. Figures like Camillus and Coriolanus embody the tragic tension between personal honor and public service.

The collapse of the Republic The final movement follows the rise of dominant personalities like Pompey and Caesar, who eventually outgrow the institutions they serve. The narrative tracks their rapid accumulation of power, the resulting civil wars, and the violent end of the old political order.

The People

The figures gathered here are often driven by a singular, consuming purpose—whether it is the preservation of the state, the pursuit of martial glory, or the maintenance of personal pride. Theseus and Romulus act as archetypes of the founder, tasked with carving order out of chaos, though both find that their own brilliance eventually renders them alien to the people they lead.

Pericles and Alcibiades represent the duality of the Athenian experience: the former is a model of calculated statesmanship, while the latter is a dazzling, unpredictable force of nature whose vanity constantly threatens his own city. Their lives demonstrate how easily talent can slide into excess.

In the Roman section, Coriolanus and Camillus are defined by their complex relationship with the Roman public. Coriolanus, unyielding and aristocratic, cannot navigate the democratic shift of his era and ends in exile. Cicero, by contrast, relies on his intellect and words, finding himself constantly threatened by the more violent, pragmatic forces of men like Caesar. Alexander the Great serves as the ultimate example of the conqueror; he is young, unstoppable, and relentlessly focused on his own legend, yet even he cannot escape the encroaching shadows of conspiracy and his own mortality. Each figure is ultimately measured by how they handle the weight of their own ambition, and each is left to grapple with the consequences of their choices as they approach their end.

In Its Own Voice

"Yet, after publishing an account of Lycurgus the lawgiver and Numa the king, I thought I might, not without reason, ascend as high as to Romulus, being brought by my history so near to his time."

The narrator justifies his decision to bridge the gap between mythical foundations and recorded history in his opening assessment of Romulus.

"He had some thoughts to have reduced them by force, but was overpowered by demagogues and factions."

Theseus discovers that even a legendary hero finds it impossible to govern a city when the public mind has turned toward distrust and manipulation.

"Lucullus' life, like the Old comedy, presents us at the commencement with acts of policy and of war, and at the end offers nothing but good eating and drinking, feastings, and revelings, and mere play."

This observation summarizes the trajectory of a Roman leader whose later years were defined by his withdrawal from public service into extreme luxury.

What It's Really About

The central argument concerns the nature of moral character and its impact on the fate of nations. The lives suggest that the success of a state is not dependent on power alone, but on the virtues of those who steer it. There is a recurring tension between the requirements of law and the impulses of the individual; when a leader prioritizes his own glory over the common good, the result is almost always a decline into instability. The work also asks whether greatness is an innate quality or a product of circumstance, ultimately positing that while fortune may place a man on the stage, his choices determine whether he is remembered as a benefactor or a tyrant. It is a study of the fragility of republics and the intoxicating, often destructive, nature of unchecked ambition.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the weight of history and the study of human psychology will find much to admire here. There is a profound satisfaction in seeing these colossal figures stripped of their pedestal and presented as people who struggle with ego, domestic strife, and the fickleness of the public. The prose is dignified and clear, eschewing modern complexity for a straightforward, rhythmic delivery that feels classic rather than archaic.

However, the reader must be prepared for the distance of the period. The text assumes a certain familiarity with ancient geography and customs, and the values expressed—such as the casual acceptance of slavery or the honor-bound necessity of suicide—are unmistakably rooted in the ancient world. At times, the rapid movement from one life to the next can feel overwhelming, requiring a patient reader who is willing to sit with the vignettes rather than rush toward a conclusion.

Despite these barriers, the book remains a powerful experience because it focuses on the universal anxieties of the human condition: the fear of being forgotten, the desire to do right by one's people, and the struggle to remain grounded while holding immense power. What stays with you long after finishing is the sense that the fundamental conflicts of politics have not changed much in two millennia; we are still debating the same questions of duty, pride, and the moral responsibilities of those who lead us.