This book contains new, annotated, and literal yet accessible translations of Xenophon’s eight shorter writings, accompanied by interpretive essays that reveal these works to be masterful achievements by a serious thinker of the first rank who raises important moral, political, and philosophical questions. Five of these shorter writings are unmistakably devoted to political matters. The Agesilaos is a eulogy of a Spartan king, and the Hiero, or the Skilled Tyrant recounts a searching dialogue between a poet and a tyrant. The Regime of the Lacedaemonians presents itself as a laudatory examination of what turns out to be an oligarchic regime of a certain type, while The Regime of the Athenians offers an unflattering picture of a democratic regime. Ways and Means, or On Revenues offers suggestions on how to improve the political economy of Athens’ troubled democracy. The other three works included here—The Skilled Cavalry Commander, On Horsemanship, and The One Skilled at Hunting with Dogs—treat skills deemed appropriate for soldiers and leaders, touching on matters of political importance, especially in regard to war. By bringing together Xenophon’s shorter writings, this volume aims to help those interested in Xenophon to better understand the core of his thought, political as well as philosophical. Interpretive essays by: Wayne Ambler, Robert C. Bartlett, Amy L. Bonnette, Susan D. Collins, Michael Ehrmantraut, David Levy, Gregory A. McBrayer, Abram N. Shulsky.

A new selection of Franz Kafka’s shorter fiction and nonfiction work, selected and with a preface by Book of Numbers author Joshua Cohen. “Being asked to write about Kafka is like being asked to describe the Great Wall of China by someone who’s standing just next to it. The only honest thing to do is point.” —Joshua Cohen, from his foreword to He: Shorter Writings of Franz Kafka This is a Kafka emergency kit, a congregation of the brief, the minor works that are actually major. Joshua Cohen has produced a frame that refuses distinctions between what is a story, a letter, a workplace memo, and a diary entry, also including popular favorites like The Bucket Rider, The Penal Colony, and The Burrow. Here we see Kafka’s preoccupations in writing about animals, messiah variations, food, and exercise, each in his signature style. Cohen’s selection emphasizes the stately structure of utterly coherent logic within an utterly incoherent and illogical world, showing how Kafka harnessed the humblest grammar to metamorphic power, until the predominant effect ceases to be the presence of an unreliable narrator but the absence of the universe’s only reliable narrator—God.

This book presents translations of three dialogues Xenophon devoted to the life and thought of his teacher, Socrates. Each is accompanied by notes and an interpretative essay that will introduce new readers to Xenophon and foster further reflection in those familiar with his writing. "Apology of Socrates to the Jury" shows how Socrates conducted himself when he was tried on the capital charge of not believing in the city's gods and corrupting the young. Although Socrates did not secure his own acquittal, he profoundly impressed some listeners who then helped to shape the public perception of philosophy as a noble, if highly idiosyncratic, way of life. In "Oeconomicus," Xenophon relates the conversation Socrates had on the day he turned from the study of natural philosophy to that of moral and political matters. "Oeconomicus" is concerned most directly with the character and purpose of Socrates' political philosophy. Xenophon provides entertaining portraits of Socrates' circle of friends in the "Symposium." In the process, he conveys the source of every individual's pride in himself, thus defining for each a conception of human excellence or virtue. The dialogue concludes with Socrates' beautiful speech on love (eros) and its proper place in the good or happy life.

Geerhardus Vos has been called "the father of Reformed biblical theology." During his 39 years as a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, he achieved the reputation of a theologian whose biblical insight is without equal. The full impact of his exegetical labor has been realized only in recent years.

Examine a collection of Karl Barth’s shorter works, written after the first publication of his Epistle to the Romans, during his time as professor in Göttingen and Münster, in the wake of World War I.

Gillespie is best known for his two major works on worship and the relationship between church and state, A Dispute Against the English Popish Ceremonies (1637) and Aaron's Rod Blossoming (1646). The first is in print in a recent critical edition, while the latter, Gillespie's largest single work, and a masterpiece in Scottish ecclesiastical theology (James Walker), awaits such careful treatment. However, in addition to his two main works, Gillespie's shorter writings and sermons amount to material twenty percent larger than the two larger works combined and includes his more succinct and some of his best writing. This three-volume set will present all of Gillespie's known shorter works, carefully edited for the most accurate texts, including newly transcribed manuscript material and writings not included in the 19th century edition of his works. Volume 1. This first of three projected volumes in the Naphtali Press Special Editions series. Volume 1 includes, An Assertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland, which in two parts covers the office of ruling elder and the warrant for and authority of assemblies of the church above the local session of elders, a work "remarkable for its thoroughness and is moderation" (James Walker); and it includes four anonymously published tracts known to be by Gillespie, which includes perhaps his most controversial work, Wholesome Severity Reconciled with Christian Liberty. Also appearing will be brief notes from the sermon Gillespie preached soon after arriving in London for the Westminster Assembly on the topic of Why Christmas Day ought not to be Observed. Contents: Volume 1 Memoir of the Rev. George Gillespie by W. M. Hetherington. An Assertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland, in the points of ruling elders, and of the authority of presbyteries and synods. Anonymously published in 1641. Significantly augmented and correct text than that in Gillespie's Works (1846). Reason for which the service-book urged upon Scotland ought to be refused. 1638. Why Christmas Day ought not to be Observed: A Transcription from Manuscript of Notes from a Sermon by George Gillespie, December 24, 1643. Faces About: Or, A Recrimination charged upon Mr. John Goodwin, in the point of fighting against God, and opposing the way of Christ. 1644. A Late Dialogue Between a Civilian and a Divine, Concerning the Present Condition of the Church of England. In which, among other particulars, these following are especially spoken of: 1. The sin and danger of delaying Reformation 2. That there is a certain form of Church-Government Jure Divino. 3. That there was an Ecclesiastical Excommunication among the Jews. 4. That Excommunication is an Ordinance in the New Testament. 5. Concerning the Toleration of all Sects and Heresies. 6. Some Answer to a late Book come from Oxford. 1644.

Forty-six of Machen's shorter writings are organized into ten categories. Selections made by Machen's biographer, who contributes an introduction, a bibliography and "For Further Reading."