Euripides: Medea (Cambridge Translations from Greek Drama)

I can't honestly say I enjoyed reading this very much. I love Greek mythology, but when reading for pleasure I'd rather read a prose retelling. But there are times one has to study the original. In my case, this is one of the set books for my Open University module. This translation is clear and easy to read, and is accompanied by a very informative commentary, which I'm sure I will be referencing frequently when it's time to write my assignments.

Purchased for my eldest son who is studying an OU Classics degree, and when asked about his thoughts, he was complementary about the book, stating it was laid out in a very easy to digest way, and made his tma submission (which he got 78% for) a lot easier than he anticipated. He was quite surprised how Euripides had written such a 'soap opera' play, when all the others seemed so political and serious.

Of all the Greek tragedies, Medea arguably has the most modern concerns. Despite its shocking conclusion - Medea's ob scene murder of her two children condoned by Helios, the Sun God - this play revolves around the refugee experience, the question of historical/mythological narrative viewpoint, and raises questions about the position of women in a phallocentric society.Harrison's translation is fluent and treats the play as a play in a modern idiom. The notes are also very useful, both to the A-Level scholar and the interested play-goer.So why not 5 stars? Despite the above, I don't feel it really moves on significantly from Vellacott's seminal 1976 translation - a little more idiomatic, but not as radical as Tom Paulin's, to which I HAVE given 5 stars. Having said that, if this is to be used for A-Level study, then the notes and activities make the Harrison the preferred version, whilst the Paulin makes for a more compelling production.

Excellent play, although short, it is very powerful, and this version is very easy to read with useful notes for each page. Particularly useful if studying it for drama/english. I bought new, so in perfect condition.

Nice cover, readable.

Very easy to understand and helped me through my Classical Civilisations GCSE.

Book for a study course

Good, thanks!