Please recommend a version of Plutarch's Lives ...

[MichelleWI]

We do not own this book in any form and I'd like to add it to our home library. Can you please recommend the English version you prefer and include the ISBN so I can stalk the online used booksellers? If you would, please share why you recommend your particular choice.

[Jane in NC]

We do not own this book in any form and I'd like to add it to our home library. Can you please recommend the English version you prefer and include the ISBN so I can stalk the online used booksellers? If you would, please share why you recommend your particular choice.

Oh dear...our particular choice is often made by what we find at the library book sale! In this case, my son used the Modern Library version, translated by John Dryden, revised by Arthur Hugh Clough. Are there better versions? Probably. But ours was a dollar and conveniently ensconced on the bookshelf. It worked.

Jane

[MichelleWI]

Thank you, Jane. :) I don't believe I've ever seen this book at a used book sale. There are a few coming up soon in our area and if Baby delays his arrival long enough, perhaps I'll have a chance to get a copy. Otherwise I'll look online.

[Jane in NC]

Thank you, Jane. :) I don't believe I've ever seen this book at a used book sale.

We love attending the library book sale in a nearby town that has a regional university. There are usually tables of classics and text books at the cost of 25 cents to a dollar. The editions may not be the latest, but the price is right!

[MichelleWI]

Now that would be wonderful. The city we visit most often has a large university. I will try to find out if they have any sort of sale. Thank you for the tip.

A nearby town is having a book sale for the area homeschool families and they said they'll have a tent full of 25 cent books. It's close to the point in pregnancy when we tend not to travel but my husband came across the email notification today and declared he would go alone if I couldn't attend.

[Eliana]

I also recommend the Dryden translation (revised by Clough). I have a Modern Library edition - the same edition my parents used in college! - but there's more than one edition of this translation....

Here's a two volume pb set 1 (http://www.amazon.com/Plutarchs-Lives-Modern-Library-Classics/dp/0375756760/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206328736&sr=1-1) and 2 (http://www.amazon.com/Plutarchs-Lives-Modern-Library-Classics/dp/0375756779/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206328736&sr=1-2).

Here's a volume 1 hardbound (http://www.amazon.com/Plutarch-Grecians-Romans-Modern-Library/dp/0679600086/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206328736&sr=1-3) (volume 2 (http://www.amazon.com/Plutarchs-Lives-Vol-II-Plutarch/dp/0679600094/ref=ed_oe_h) seems to be oop, but not too expensive used).

Here's one old edition (http://www.amazon.com/Plutarch-Grecians-Romans-Modern-Library/dp/B000FTGJ10/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206328736&sr=1-6).

My mother also has the Loeb editions (http://www.amazon.com/Plutarch-Romulus-Lycurgus-Publicola-Classical/dp/0674990528/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206328736&sr=1-10) (oh, they are *wonderful*!) with both the Greek and the English. These are, however, pricey and I think the Plutarch runs to 11 volumes.