The Shorter Writings

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.

Gregory A. McBrayer is Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of the University Core Curriculum at Ashland University.

On the surface, the Ways and Means is an attempt by a native son of Athens to restore the laurel to that great city through economic reforms. On a deeper level, it is the recognition of national existence as a strenuous act of renewal; and, more importantly, the affirmation and exposition of a certain kind of knowledge, or "science," of political economy.

Plaudits to Gregory McBrayer, who has edited a new collection of the shorter works of the ancient Greek philosopher Xenophon, complete with fresh literal translations and interpretative essays by distinguished scholars. The Shorter Writings features Xenophon's reflections on subjects ranging from tyranny, political economy, hunting with dogs, and the ways of life of Athens and Sparta, the two most interesting Greek cities. By writing on topics that can at first glance sometimes appear quite mundane, Xenophon shows how the greatest philosophical puzzles can be seen through the practical problems of life out in the world.

Magnificent.... The translators and commentators assembled by McBrayer approach Xenophon with a prudence and care that would have made the Athenian smile.

Timothy Burns, Baylor University:

For anyone who wants to understand Xenophon’s thought fully, these shorter works are vital. McBrayer has brought together an impressive group of scholars who have produced excellent, reliably faithful translations as well as illuminating introductory essays on these deceptively unassuming gems.

Peter J. Ahrensdorf, James Sprunt Professor of Political Science, Davidson College:

By making available the shorter writings of Xenophon in reliably accurate translations, accompanied by consistently illuminating interpretations, this volume makes an important contribution to one of the most heartening and consequential scholarly achievements of the past fifty years: the rediscovery of Xenophon as a political philosopher of the first rank.

Eric Buzetti, Associate Professor, Concordia University, and author of Xenophon the Socratic Prince: The Argument of the "Anabasis of Cyrus.":

This is a most welcome volume. Xenophon’s shorter writings—all eight of them—have here been collected and translated literally for the first time. The interpretive essays are rich and thought provoking. A significant contribution to the modern recovery of Xenophon’s Socratic wisdom.