Pericles, the Athenian statesman, was a towering figure of his era, renowned for promoting Athenian democracy, shaping the Athenian Empire and championing the arts, notably through the Parthenon’s creation. Born to aristocracy, he was a fervent democrat, a masterful demagogue in the ancient sense and an eccentric in his personal life. Paul Cartledge explores Pericles’ life, examines Athenian history and provides an insightful account of Pericles’ political career, his role in Athens’s building programme, his intellectual connections and his love life. Cartledge further considers Pericles’ reputation in the theatre as well as the ways in which he has been represented over the centuries from antiquity to the present day. This is a nuanced, illuminating and lively portrayal of a remarkable politician.