Poison in Athens

It is the autumn of 330 BC and three law cases are exciting Athens: the malicious wounding of a wealthy citizen; a bizarre murder by hemlock; and an accusation of impiety against the courtesan Phryne. The court proceedings and surrounding speculation stir up strong feelings: disgust for depraved sensuality and deep political passions amongst the citys populace. A crucial lack of judgement eventually brings affairs to a boiling point. Aristotle recollecting the death of Socrates and strongly aware of the citys tensions and of the fragile nature of political constitutions intervenes lest the forthcoming trials break Athens into fragments. From the Paperback edition.