Presented by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is conducted by Richard Armitage, star of Peter Jackson’sThe Hobbit trilogy and also known for his roles in Ocean’s 8 and Spooks. This definitive documenting includes an Introduction by Diskin Clay.

Originally written only for his personal consumption, Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations has turned into a key text in the understanding of Roman Stoic philosophy. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes by Martin Hammond and an introduction by about Meditations: Penguin Classics Diskin Clay.

Written in Greek by an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius provide a wide variety of interesting spiritual reflections and exercises created as the leader struggled to comprehend himself and seem sensible from the universe. Spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cover such diverse topics as the query of virtue, human rationality, the nature from the gods and Aurelius’s own emotions. But while the Meditations had been composed to supply personal consolation, in developing his values Marcus also created one of the greatest of all works of idea: a series of wise and practical aphorisms which have been consulted and adored by statesmen, thinkers and regular readers for almost two thousand years.

Martin Hammond’s new translation fully expresses the intimacy and eloquence of the initial work, with complete notes elucidating the text. This release also includes an launch by Diskin Clay, exploring the type and advancement of the Meditations, a chronology, further reading and full indexes.

Marcus Aelius Aurelius Antoninus (121-80) was adopted from the emperor Antoninus Pius and succeeded him in 161, (while joint emperor with adoptive brother Lucius Verus). He ruled only from 169, and spent much of his reign in putting down several rebellions, and was a persecutor of Christians. His fame rest, above all, on his Meditations, a series of reflections, strongly inspired by Epictetus, which represent a Stoic outlook on life. He was been successful by his organic son, thus closing the period of the adoptive emperors.