Solon, the first poet of Athens, had a formative influence on later poetry, including tragedy. Using an integrated literary, historical and philological approach, Maria Noussia Fantuzzi studies the poetry of Solon and offers a thorough analysis of the multifaceted art of this poet, sage and political actor and his place in the history of literature. Issues which she addresses include the transmission of the poems, the use of strategies of persuasion in the creation of an authoritative voice, and the author's immediate political and social context. As well as providing insight into Solon, her book enriches our understanding of archaic literature and the ways in which the culture of Athens was prepared for the miracle of the fifth century."