Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Trial and the Death of Socrates  By  cover art

The Trial and the Death of Socrates

By: Plato
Narrated by: Bruce Alexander, Jamie Glover, David Timson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.82

Buy for $14.82

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The Trial and the Death of Socrates remains a powerful document not least because it gives a first-hand account of the end of one of the greatest figures in history.

In Apology, Socrates defends himself before the Athenian court against charges of corrupting youth. Phaedo is the account by a young man of the actual last words and moments of Socrates.

Tom Griffith presents these with scene-setting introductions to the historical situation in this new translation.

Translated by Tom Griffith.

©2001 Naxos AudioBooks Ltd. (P)2001 Naxos AudioBooks Ltd.

What listeners say about The Trial and the Death of Socrates

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    209
  • 4 Stars
    83
  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    151
  • 4 Stars
    47
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    158
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

5 stars!

This is a really excellent piece! The audio is perfect, the reader is clear and acts the part of Socrates well. Socrates, for his part, comes off as a tad arrogant, but always insightful, fascinating and moving.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Plato's finest work

Would you listen to The Trial and the Death of Socrates again? Why?

Yes. I have listened to the trial several times. It is and will forever be one of my favorite classical works.

What did you like best about this story?

It is the story that made Plato famous... and it may be the only time where truth spilled from the quill of Plato... that cousin of the thrity, that was hell bent on destroying the Athenean Democracy that had thwarted every attempt at forceful overthrow.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was there a moment in the book that particular moved you?

When Socrates suggests his punishment, he knows he is sealing his fate. He does not fear death, and he believes that the impact of his death in this manner will be far greater than the few years of life he has left.

Socrates thought the message would be heard quickly after his demise, but it has been almost 2500 years, and he has yet to be avenged.

Perhaps the trouble in Greece right now will bring about the world Socrates dreamed of... a world ruled by philospher kings, where every person is a king.

Any additional comments?

Democracy was assassinated by a stream of propaganda. When only the powerful possess the means to spread a message, that message is hostile to the common man. The meek shall inherit the earth. That will happen when we take the message of Socrates to heart. It is also the message of a craftsman from Nazareth.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Even better than I expected

I enjoyed everything about this audio book. The reader is good about keeping a steady pace as he reads, allowing you to absorb Socrates's words.

The text, in itself is amazing. Even a couple thousand years after his death it is still very insightful and pertinent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding Performance!

The performance makes the trial come to life!
I have been assigned to read Plato's "Apology" for my Philosophy 101 class, and got this audiobook to make it easier. Definitely recommend!

The way the work is read makes it seem as if you were actually a member of the jury at the time and place of Socrates' trial. They even put some echo in there to make it seem more real- a really neat touch.

A good amount of context is given at the beginning and end of each section, making it much easier to understand what is going on and why is it being executed the way it is.

There are several sections to this audiobook- context information, "The Apology", and other works that go with it including the account of Socrates' actual death.

This work of literature is a classic. Thought provocative, supremely rhetorical, definitely something to reflect and learn from.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent rendition

People don't change. His persecutors could live today. I am not sure, however, that we have a Socrates.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very good

This was my second probe into Plato, the first being Plato in 90 minutes, and I found it very easy to follow. The narrators are excellent. You won't be disapponted if you appreciate wisdom.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting - but........

I love that Audible gives me access to classic literature like this.

The first part dealing with the trial is interesting but it is a bit frustrating that the details of the prosecution are absent.

The third section, which deals with Socrates's "testament" (kind of) sounds like two blokes in a pub talking rubbish. I get the irony that this is me accusing Socrates of talking nonsense but the philosophy is so outdated that it just sounds like the sort of guff that I spout when I'm drunk. But these are Socratese words and without this audiobook I'd never have heard them. Well worth it.

Recording is good and clear if a bit flat in tone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Apology is excellent, the rest isn't for driving.

This recording sounds like its over 20 years old, but the performance is so good that the listener forgets about the sound quality. In my opinion, the Apology part of this recording is actually the most captivating performance of the works of Plato on Audible. However, the dialougues such as Crito are hard to follow if one isn't concentrating, don't try listening to them during your morning drive.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Audio Book

This Was a great Audio book. The reader did an excellent job. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Music

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes. It is true to the good translations.

What did you like best about this story?

Its a classic must read for those who wish to have a proper education.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not sure

Did The Trial and the Death of Socrates inspire you to do anything?

It is rather dense. Inspire me to listen along as I read from the text.

Any additional comments?

The music between sections/chapters is Horrid! It really kills the mood of the reading with its shrill teeth grinding tones. Buy the book but put up with the music. Wish there was a way to skip the music.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful