Euripides was one of the most popular and controversial tragic poets of ancient Greek dramaturgy. His works are distinguished by independent thought, clever dramatic devices, and subtle variety in style and mood. He also stands out for the prominence he gives to female characters, whether they are heroines of virtue or vice. In the morally shocking "Medea," the first known mother to commit filicide in Greek myth, she manipulates her world to take revenge on her treacherous husband. In "Hippolytus," Penelope's admission of her love for her stepson anticipates disaster, while in "Electra," the heroine assists her brother in killing their mother in an act that fuses justice with sin. Finally, lighter in tone, the satirical drama "Helen" is an exploration of the impossibility of certainty, as exemplarily brilliant as the three famous tragedies.
This new translation fully conveys Euripides' range of tone and his storytelling talent. A clear introduction provides significant analysis of each work, accompanied by important explanations of the traditions and background in Euripides' world.
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