Witty, sexy and radiantly beautiful, the Shelley translation of Plato's great Dialogue on Love, The Banquet (or The Symposium) is by far the best in the English language. It has been described as conveying much of the vivid life, the grace of movement, and the luminous beauty of Plato -- the poetry of a philosopher rendered by the prose of a poet. Although a masterpiece in its own right, the translation was suppressed and then bowdlerized for well over a century. In 19th century Britain, male love at the heart of the dialogue was unmentionable. The Banquet and Shelley's accompanying essay, A Discourse on the Manners of the Antient Greeks, were not published in their entirety until 1931, and then in an edition of 100 copies intended for private circulation only. For many years, the Shelley translation has been unobtainable, new or used. Pagan Press now offers a new edition, which is complete and authentic. In terms of both typography and editing, it is the most readable edition ever published.