DEMOCRATS TO KINGS
See the latest interview about the book on the new Classics Confidential website.
What is From Democrats to Kings about: “Everyone has heard about Athenian democracy, the height of liberty in the ancient world. Everyone has heard about Alexander the Great, the most powerful despot to rule the planet. But no book – academic or popular history – has told the story about how the world of Athenian democracy morphed into the world of King Alexander. In less than 100 years, the Greek world was turned on its head and changed completely forever. This book is about that 100 years of world change. It tells the story of how a way of life which the modern western world has held up as its progenitor and ideal so quickly evolved into its antithesis. Democrats to Kings – how and why did it happen and, more importantly, why is it a story that matters for us today? It matters because every single one of the debates, decisions and actions that occurred in that 100 year period resonates with the critical issues facing our world today. The key players in ancient Greece – philosophers like Socrates, generals like Epaminondas, statesmen like Demosthenes and rulers like Philip of Macedon – had to fight to understand and stay ahead of a society in a state of constant change, relying on little more than their own character and nerve. These people had to respond quickly to crises of identity, community, immigration, nation building, military intervention, political instability, poverty and civil war or else be carried away on the tsunami which was ferrying Greece headlong into a new world. For some, that meant following their beliefs to their own death. For others, it meant a careful tap dance of political diplomacy and for others still it meant a cruel and calculated usurpation of power. Just like today as people respond differently to the complexities with which they and the world are faced, so too these ancients had to feel their own individual ways through the darkness. This book follows these characters, exploring the dilemmas they faced and showing how and why they responded in the ways that they did. It is a story about people who, whether they knew it or not, were changing the world. Through their stories, we see the crumbling of democracy, flirtations with oligarchy, the catastrophic effects of civil war, the decadent effects of sudden wealth, the sadistic playfulness of foreign potentates, the rebuilding of ruined cities, the xenophobic treatment of foreigners, the rise of nationalism and the battle between blood communities. This is the story of ancient Greece and its most turbulent period of change, a time in which Greece faced many of the problems which divide our world today. Through the council chamber, the theatre, the back street, the prison, the brothel, the religious sanctuary and the battlefield, this book brings the ancient Greek world to life and makes its most famous characters walk again. It tells a story never told before – one which the modern world can ignore only at its peril.” Reviews and Publicity Reviews "A gloriously entertaining and provocative account of a period of Greek history that is no less important for having so often been overlooked." Tom Holland "I really enjoyed From Democrats to Kings – fascinating and exuberant on Ancient Athens, bringing their politics to life and right up to date, making Ancient Greece relevant for today." Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Young Stalin and Catherine The Great & Potemkin "Deft and accessible overview of one of the most crucial periods in Western history, covering from the fall of Athens to the rise of Alexander by Cambridge research fellow Scott." School House magazine “Scott writes extremely clearly and unpicks the complex first half of the century very well …. He brings the history to life by interspersing it intelligently with quotes from the sources, especially on the leading actors’ motives and character. ….we need all the intelligent popularisers we can get, and given the readability of the book despite its subject matter, I think Scott could do a lot to open up the classical world to a new generation.” Peter Jones, Journal of Classical Teachers “Michael Scott is a young Cambridge historian experienced in lecturing to cruise-ship passengers and secondary school pupils as well as undergraduates. This book (his first) successfully addresses them all.” John Taylor, Anglo-Hellenic Review“The period after the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC often gets passed over by historians, so it is great to have Michael Scott's lively account of a period that has its own fascinations. States rose and fell, brilliant generals had their moments of glory, ill-considered foreign expeditions crashed to defeat. Lots of lessons for today. Scott's vivid narrative takes us through Alexander and then into the kingdoms that followed. Perhaps the Hellenistic period will be his next subject. It has just the sort of drama and big personalities that grip his, and our, imaginations so I hope he considers a follow-up as entertaining as this one.” Review by Charles Freeman, Author of A New History of Early Christianity, Egypt, Greece and Rome: Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean, Sites of Antiquity: “An admirably written chapter from the past that illustrates history's ability constantly, often tragically, to repeat itself." “Dr Michael Scott, a research fellow at Cambridge, is making a big splash with his first book – it is on a major historical theme and the storyline is handles with verve and original insights. The treatment is accessible and punchy, and a wide readership cannot fail to be entertained as well as instructed about a world that is both familiar and alien, modern as well as ancient" “It's admirable of Michael Scott to shine a light on the forgotten 4th century, and he's engaging about the culture that bloomed as Athens faded." Harry Mount reviews From Democrat to Kings in the Daily Mail 16th October 2009 Publicity I debated about the modern day relevance of From Democrats to Kings with columnist Simon Jenkins on Radio’s 4 Today Programme and on BBC Radio Wales drive time. Articles about From Democrats to Kings were published in the Independent on Sunday, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Press Association, New Scotsman and Cambridge News in the UK. The book also attracted a substantial amount of publicity in Greek newspapers TO VIMA and TA NEA. There were also newspaper articles in Brazil (O Globo), in Russia (Pravda) and in Australia (Neos Kosmos). I wrote articles for BBC History Magazine (on the forgotten 4th century BC) and in History Today (on the changing position of women in the 4th century BC) published during October to coincide with the launch of From Democrats to Kings. A podcast was also available on the BBC History Magazine website during October in which I spoke about the main arguments of the book. In November, I wrote an article about From Democrats to Kings for Neos Kosmos newspaper in Australia, and early in 2010, articles about the book will appear in classics schools’ magazines Omnibus and Iris. Continue to follow my blog for the latest updates as I give talks about From Democrats to Kings around the country (including the Beyond Words Literary Festival in London and the EMACT 6th form conference in Nottingham).
Contacts For serial, interview and other press enquiries, please contact Najma Finlay, Head of Publicity, najma.finlay@iconbooks.co.uk For all enquiries regarding book rights please contact my literary agent: Patrick Walsh |
On 1 October 2009, 
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