From the epic stories of Homer to the philosophical insights of Marcus Aurelius, The Essential Classics is a bountiful anthology of one thousand years of Greek and Roman literature. It is a treasure trove of familiar masterworks by such visionaries as Sophocles, Aristotle, and Cicero. Biographical sketches reveal the colorful lives of each author and lucid commentaries guide the reader through the intricacies of the texts. This collection further preserves the translations made by prominent American and British scholars now considered classic works in their own right. The volume also contains three maps, a chronological chart of the ancient world, and a table of Greek gods and their Roman equivalents. Essential Classics is a gem. Beautiful book, beautifully edited. I have been perusing it and enjoying it quite a bit. -- Byron King, Philadelphia, PA