This introduction to Plato's dialogues and his writing is ideal for those new to his work, giving historical context to his ideas. 'Christopher Rowe's Plato, ahead of its time when first published, is highly welcome in a new reprint. Rowe faces from the start the point that the reader of Plato's dialogues is encountering a challenging form of philosophy, one which demands both intellectual rigour and personal response, one which challenges the reader both to systematize the ideas in different dialogues and to do justice to them in their distinct dramatic settings. It invites us to shared inquiry rather than deference to established positions, and this clear and subtle introduction will draw the beginner into fruitful engagement with Plato's many ideas.'- Julia Annas, University of Arizona '... compels the reader to engage with the actual text and thus gain an appreciation of the Socratic method of shared enquiry.' - Margaret Buckley, Classics Ireland