Plato’s The Republic (Hardcover, 1942, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.) This vintage edition of Plato’s philosophical masterpiece is in excellent condition, with beautifully preserved, crystal-clear text. Though the original red dust jacket is missing and a previous owner’s name is written on one page, the book remains a rare and collectible publication. The Republic was written by Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, and translated by I.A. Richards. He lived from around 427 to 347 BCE and was a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle. The book is written as a philosophical dialogue, primarily featuring Socrates as the main character, and explores ideas about justice, politics, education, and the ideal society.