This work investigates how Plutarch utilizes specific source material to construct and present the character of the Spartan king Agesilaos. D. R. Shipley provides a comprehensive scholarly framework, combining the original Greek text with a detailed modern commentary. By analyzing the historiographic and literary techniques employed by Plutarch, the author clarifies the king's role within the broader context of fourth-century Greek society and political culture.

Scholars and students of classical history recognize this volume as a foundational resource for understanding the complexities of Plutarch's biographical method. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous guide for those examining the intersection of ancient biography and historical record.