The Shadows of Socrates

The Shadows of Socrates by Matt Gatton delves into what may be the most famous unsolved murder in history—the death of Socrates. Set during the Peloponnesian War, this narrative unveils the mystery for the first time, revealing how the philosopher was set up, who orchestrated it, and why.

The influence of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates has been profound. Even today, over two thousand years after his death, he remains one of the most renowned humans to have ever lived, occupying a stratum with the likes of Buddha, Jesus, Muhammed, Confucius, and Moses. It may not be too much to say that Socrates is the single most recognisable name in the history of all humanity.

This book isn't just a philosophical tract but something closer to a novel—made all the more compelling because it’s true. It offers a real-life whodunit intertwined with themes of long-running war, rivalry, sex addiction, betrayal, sedition, starvation, and epic bravery. Socrates stood as the most rational of men living in the most irrational of times.

Another side to this story involves the charge of impiety, a religious crime at the time. From the perspective of the religious authorities, the charge against Socrates was warranted, his trial just, and the penalty appropriate. The priests did not tolerate scrutiny, even in the form of philosophical critique. Understanding what happened requires examining the motives of the priests and Socrates’ own motives in provoking them. His trial is perhaps the first, but not the last, great battle between philosophy and religion.

The repercussions of this ancient epic resonate in the West today, as Athens endured pendulum swings between democracy and oligarchy—always with bloodshed, and never with Socrates’s approval.