The Plays of Euripides

Description

Over the past decades there has been something of a revolution in the way we view classical drama generally and Euripides in particular. This book, updated in a second edition, reflects that revolution and aims to show how Euripides was continually reinventing himself. A truly Protean figure, he seems to set out on a new journey in each of his surviving 19 plays. Between general introduction and final summary, Morwood's chapters identify the themes that underlie the plays and concentrate, above all, on demonstrating the extraordinary diversity of this great dramatist. New to this edition, which is updated throughout, are further details on the individual plays and extra suggestions for background reading. The volume is a companion to The Plays of Sophocles and The Plays of Aeschylus (both by Alex Garvie) also available in second editions from Bloomsbury. A further essential guide to the themes and context of ancient Greek tragedy may be found in Laura Swift's new introductory volume, Greek Tragedy.

James Morwood is Emeritus Fellow at Wadham College, University of Oxford, UK; he was formerly head of Classics at Harrow School. His numerous publications include translations of eleven of Euripides' plays in the Oxford World Classics Series (1997, 1999, 2001). His interests in drama extend beyond the ancient world: he has written The Life and Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1985) and co-edited Sheridan Studies (1995).

Ever since its first appearance in 2002 Morwood's little book - readable, instructive and cram-packed with sound scholarship and interesting apercus - has been just about the best available introduction to Euripidean drama for sixth-former, undergraduate and general reader alike. This second edition both brings the earlier volume up to date and adds important new material, ensuring the book's continuing success for many years to come. -- Stephen Anderson, Rodewald Lector in Classical Languages, New College, Oxford University, UK