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  Xenophon and the Graces of Power. A Greek Guide to Political Manipulation.
by Vincent Azoulay. Translated by Angela Krieger
ISBN-13 9781910589694 ISBN-10 1910589691, hardback, 440pp, 2018
 

One of classical Greece’s most worldly and lucid writers, Xenophon across his many works gave a restless criticism of power: democratic, oligarchic and autocratic. From military campaigns (in which he took part), through the great powers of his day (Sparta, Persia, Athens) to modes of control within the household, he observed intimately and often with partisan passion.


In this work a leading French Hellenist, Vincent Azoulay, analyses across Xenophon’s diverse texts the techniques by which the Greek writer recommends that leaders should manipulate. Through gifts and personal allure, though mystique, dazzling appearance, exemplary behaviour, strategic absences – and occasional terror, Xenophon analyses ways in which a powerful few might triumphantly replace the erratic democracies and selfindulgent oligarchies of his day.


First published in French (in 2004) to international acclaim, this book is here translated for the first time, revised and updated.

 

CONTENTS

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 – CHARIS AND ITS CHALLENGES
CHAPTER 2 – LEGITIMATE FAVORS
.CHAPTER 3–FROM GOOD DEEDS TO MISDEEDS: THE CORRUPTING POWER OF CHARIS
CHAPTER 4 – BETWEEN CHARIS AND MISTHOS: XENOPHON AGAINST THE MERCHANTS?
CHAPTER 5 – CHARIS AND ENVY
CHAPTER 6 – CHARIS AND PHILIA: THE POLITICS OF FRIENDSHIP
CHAPTER 7 – CHARIS AND PATERNITY
CHAPTER 8 – THE GRACES OF LOVE
CONCLUSION
PHILOLOGICAL ANNEX: CHARIS IN XENOPHON’S CORPUS

NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GENERAL INDEX
INDEX LOCORUM