Plutarch of Chaeronea in 166 pages: that sounds like trying to pour the ocean into an aquarium! A project like that seems a priori undoable, for Plutarch is an extremely rich and versatile author and he wrote so many works on so many different themes. His Parallel Lives alone contain far too much information for a small volume like this one, and the same holds true for his Moralia. Therefore, the invitation of the New Surveys editors on behalf of the Classical Association to write this book was a real challenge and I'm grateful to them for their trust in me and for their support during the publication process. Inevitably, the focus of this volume will often be on bare essentials. Yet I also hope to give the reader an idea of the dynamics of Plutarch's thinking and indeed arouse a passion for this interesting author. Briefly put, my goal will be reached when my reader enthusiastically throws this book away (or, perhaps better, carefully places it on a shelf), runs to the library, and begins reading Plutarch for themself.

In writing and finalizing this book I have greatly benefited from the advice and remarks of many colleagues, who blended their accurate and helpful criticisms with the kind frankness of genuine friendship. I am most grateful to Jeffrey Beneker, Mauro Bonazzi, Frederick Brenk, Bram Demulder, Tim Duff, Franco Ferrari, Rainer Hirsch-Luipold, Phillip Horky, Heinz Gerd Ingenkamp, Katarzyna Jazdzewska, Delfim Leão, Michiel Meeusen, Judith Mossman, Israel Muñoz Gallarte, Anastasios Nikolaidis, Jan Opsomer, Christopher Pelling, Dámaris Romero Gonzales, Philip Stadter, John Taylor, Frances Titchener, Luc Van der Stockt, Laurens Van der Wiel, Lieve Van Hoof, and Alexei Zadorozhny, all of whom read (parts of) the first draft of this book. Their valuable feedback, comments, and suggestions significantly improved the final result, saved me from many mistakes, and helped me a lot in clarifying and nuancing my arguments.

I'd also like to thank my colleagues at the University of Leuven, especially Johan Leemans, Peter Van Deun, Gerd Van Riel, and Joseph Verheyden, with whom I have been collaborating for ten years now on several big projects.

Warm thanks finally go to my wife, Kristin – who easily surpasses blameless Timoxena – and to my children – who easily surpass Plutarch's sons in intellectually challenging their father. Not only do they know how much effort it has taken to write this book but they were also kind enough to welcome the old Plutarch so often as a fellow banqueter and a member of our family, and this intellectual hospitality, no doubt, has contributed immensely to this book.