You will find here Sir Thomas North's 1579 English translation of Plutarch's Parallel Lives -- classical biographies of ancient Roman and Greek men that incorporate innovative and subtle analyses of individual character. North's version of Plutarch's Lives was Shakespeare's primary source for his play Julius Caesar. We have used here J. W. Skeat's nineteenth century edition of North's Plutarch that selects several of the major Lives.

Bust of Pompey, Copenhagen NCG 597 Photo courtesy of Amy C. Smith

1. The Life of Caius Martius Coriolanus

2. The Life of Julius Caesar

3. The Life of Marcus Brutus

4. The Life of Marcus Antonius

5. The Life of Octavius Caesar Augustus

6. Extracts From the Life of Theseus

7. Extracts From the Life of Alcibiades