"The City of Sokrates" is a comprehensive account of Athens' historical and cultural significance. In this extensively revised second edition, J. W. Roberts explores the characteristics of Athenian life in the latter half of the fifth century BC.

He examines the city's extraordinary cultural legacy, including democracy, tragedy, comedy, moral philosophy and mathematical astronomy, and surveys the negative aspects of Greek culture such as blood sacrifice, subordination of women and xenophobia. This book also includes an investigation of the trial of Socrates, Athens' most devoted son and most radical critic.