The Bacchae (Meridian classics) [Mass Market Paperback]

Euripides (Author), Michael Cacoyannis (Translator, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0452008859 | ISBN-13: 978-0452008854

This classic tragedy from the celebrated Athenian playwright tells the story of Dionysus, the Greek god of indulgence. The play centers on his punishment of Pentheus, a Theban king who refuses to worship Dionysus and acknowledge his godly origin. Touching upon the tragic circumstances of his birth to a mortal woman and his ascent to Mount Olympus, Bacchae serves as a wonderful introduction to one of ancient Greece’s most revered gods.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Woodruff’s translation] is clear, fluent, and vigorous, well thought out, readable and forceful. The rhythms are right, ever-present but not too insistent or obvious. It can be spoken instead of read and so is viable as an acting version; and it keeps the lines of the plot well focused. The Introduction offers a good survey of critical approaches. The notes at the foot of the page are suitably brief and nonintrusive and give basic information for the non-specialist." —Charles Segal, Harvard University

"This is a very useful edition, excellent for classroom purposes. The translation is clear and lively, and several students commented on how much they enjoyed it. The introduction provides an excellent overview of the issues in the play, as well as of earlier scholarship, making it a good resource for more advanced classes. The cover photo is an added bonus and provided the starting point for stimulating class discussion.” —James B. Rives, York University

"An excellent translation which captures Bacchae’s combination of colloquial and lyric language. The Notes and Introduction are also very helpful.” —Mary-Kay Gamel, University of California, Santa Cruz

Paul Woodruff is Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Greek

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 85 pages
• Publisher: Meridian (October 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452008859
• ISBN-13: 978-0452008854
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #602,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The most verbally extravagant of all Greek dramas., August 29, 2001

By 

darragh o'donoghue - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bacchae (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

If, like me, you had Greek Tragedy down as an austere thing, full of parched plains, unswerving Fate and dour verse, then 'The Bacchae' might come as a pleasant surprise. It has these things of course, but the first quality that shocks is the vibrant, fervid excess of the language. The story concerns Dionysus, the God of wine, the Life Force, the Chaos of the Irrational etc., who inspires a possessed devotion in his acolytes, as they express themselves in high-flown, ecstatic rhapsodies. Not every one takes this proto-hippie's divinity seriously, in particular the family of his mortal mother, led by the impetuous teenage king Pentheus, who sees all this Bacchanalia in the woods and mountains in loose robes as so much lechery. Dionysus exacts such terrible revenge on these unbelievers that 'Bacchae' makes Shakespeare's 'Titus Andronicus' look like a Julie Andrews vehicle.
If Sophocles' 'Oedipus the King' is the first detective story, than 'Bacchae' might be the first police procedural - a central sequence sees Pentheus arrest Dionysus and interrogate him, a scene as tightly written and suspenseful as any thriller. But detection and policing, embodying the forces of reason and the Law, have no power against the Irrational or Unknowable, and Pentheus is soon made mad, his order and sense of self in tatters. The terrible grip of irony familiar from Greek Tragedy gives the play a violent momentum, but the most extraordinary scenes take place offstage, related in vivid and tumultuous monolgues by messengers - the whirlwind revenge of Dionysus' female followers on the forces of surveilling civilisation, and the cruel enactment of the God's revenge. This idea of hearing about improbable catastrophes but not being able to see them adds ot the supernatural terror that is the play's fevered life-blood.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best translations out there, June 11, 2003

By 

Colleen Sentance - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bacchae (Paperback)

I am a classical history major with a focus on poetry and drama. I have actually read Bacchae in Attic Greek and I have to say that I find this translation to be one of the most fluid and natural of any that I have ever read. I would highky recommend this to anyone looking for a well-written, very gory introduction to Greek theatre. This edition is also great for using as a script, wheras many translations are good only for reading. I just put up a production using this translation and my actors were very comfortable with the wonderful language Woodruff uses.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, December 4, 2000

By 

Ashareh (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bacchae (Paperback)

A solid translation of the fascinating and passionate story of Dionysus in Thebes, although it lacks the lyricism of other translations. Woodruff's version is meant to be performed aloud, and so it has more of the feel of a play to it. Students of literature and classics might want a different version; students of drama and theatre would be interested in this translation.