to a large extent he has succeeded. S. carefully presents the issues that are central to the evolution and final form of the 'developed democracy'. (...) The great strength of S.'s book, and where it will be of most use for students already acquainted with Greek history, is that it brings the evolution of the political structure at Athens into focus. Especially illuminating in this regard are S.'s discussions of the physical realities of Athens and Attica (pp.5- 18), the limits of our precise knowledge of the Athenian constitution down to (and even including) Ephialtes (pp.19-56 passim, general statement pp.50-51), the relative absence of 'political parties' (p.120), the importance of the individual (pp.122-23) in the political life at Athens as opposed to family groups (which were dominant earlier, pp.126-27), and the political outlooks of the individuals who wrote about the Athenian democracy (pp.165-83). The only substantive objection that can be raised about S.'s book is that it seems at times inconsistent in argumentation. (...) Another blemish on this otherwise solid work is the unfortunate number of misprints. But these are quibbles. S. has produced a book which will be of immense value for undergraduate and graduate level students who need an introduction to the difficult problem of trying to figure out how Athens worked at different points in its history.' (JOHN DILLERY in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 01.01.09).