Athens: Its Rise and Fall in 2 volumes is a history of ancient Athens written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Author's object was to combine an account of Athens' administration and politics with a complex view of the literature, providing the complete history of the Athenian drama and philosophy.

Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) was an English novelist, poet, playwright and politician. He wrote in a variety of genres, including historical fiction, mystery, romance, the occult, and science fiction. Bulwer-Lytton's literary works were highly popular and his bestselling novels earned him a large fortune.