These essays, by experts in the field from five countries, examine Plutarch's interpretative and artistic reshaping of his historical sources in representative lives. Diverse essays treat literary elements such as the parallelism which renders a pair of lives a unit or the themes which unify the lives. Others consider the selecting, combining, simplifying, and enlarging employed in composition. The construction of a Plutarchian life, the essays demonstrate, required careful selection and creative reworking of the historical material available.

Much of ancient history can only be written thanks to evidence supplied by Plutarch. The historical methods and qualities of this vital source were for long subjected to little systematic analysis. However, over the last two decades an authoritative and profoundly influential set of studies has appeared in the field, the work of Christopher Pelling. Dispersed until now in a wide range of international journals and symposia, these fifteen studies are here published in a single volume, revised by the author with up-to-date annotations and bibliography. Together with three new studies, they form an essential reference-work for serious students of classical Greece and Rome.

Plutarch's Lives Vol 3, written by the esteemed Greek historian and biographer Plutarch, presents a riveting assortment of biographies that delve into the lives of notable figures from Greek and Roman history. This third volume continues Plutarch's meticulous exploration of influential individuals, drawing illuminating parallels and offering insightful lessons. Comprising approximately 150 pages, Plutarch's Lives Vol 3 unveils the captivating narratives of diverse personalities, including legendary statesmen, military leaders, and philosophers. Through his skillful blend of historical accuracy and anecdotal storytelling, Plutarch provides readers with a deep understanding of the complexities of these extraordinary individuals. He offers thought-provoking insights into their virtues, vices, and ethical dilemmas, inviting readers to reflect on timeless questions of leadership, morality, and the pursuit of excellence.