An essential text for understanding Socrates, Xenophon'sMemorabilia is the compelling tribute of an affectionatestudent to his teacher, providing a rare firsthand account ofSocrates' life and philosophy. The Memorabilia isinvaluable both as a work of philosophy in its own right and as acomplement to the study of Plato's dialogues. The longest ofXenophon's four Socratic works, it is particularly revealing aboutthe differences between Socrates and his philosophicalpredecessors.

Far more obviously than Plato in the dialogues, Xenophon callsattention in the Memorabilia to his own relationship withSocrates. A colorful and fully engaged writer, Xenophon aims aboveall to convince his readers of the greatness of Socrates' thoughtand the disgracefulness of his conviction on a capital charge. Inthirty-nine chapters, Xenophon presents Socrates as an ordinaryperson and as a great benefactor to those associated with him.

古希腊历史学家、作家。雅典人。苏格拉底的弟子。公元前401年参加希腊雇佣军助小居鲁士（Kurush，约前424-前401）争夺波斯王位，未遂，次年率军而返。前396年投身斯巴达，被母邦判处终身放逐。著有《远征记》、《希腊史》（修昔底德《伯罗尼撒战争史》之续编，叙事始于前411年，止于前362年）以及《回忆苏格拉底》等。（引自《辞海》2299页）