Orestes and Other Plays (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Euripides (Author), Philip Vellacott (Translator, Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Classics | Publication Date: September 30, 1972

Written during the long battles with Sparta that were to ultimately destroy ancient Athens, these six plays by Euripides brilliantly utilize traditional legends to illustrate the futility of war. "The Children of Heracles" holds a mirror up to contemporary Athens, while "Andromache" considers the position of women in Greek wartime society. In "The Suppliant Women", the difference between just and unjust battle is explored, while "Phoenician Women" describes the brutal rivalry of the sons of King Oedipus, and the compelling "Orestes" depicts guilt caused by vengeful murder. Finally, "Iphigenia in Aulis", Euripides' last play, contemplates religious sacrifice and the insanity of war. Together, the plays offer a moral and political statement that is at once unique to the ancient world, and prophetically relevant to our own.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek (translation)

About the Author

pides (c.485-406 BC) is thought to have written 92 plays, only 18 of which survive.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (September 30, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140442596
• ISBN-13: 978-0140442595
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,340,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be ignored, September 16, 2009

By 

John Cullom (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Orestes and Other Plays (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

Euripedes is too often an afterthought of Greek tragedy. Part of the reason is that the plays are very much tied up with the political environment of the time, part is that so little of the dialogue of the characters can be taken at face value, and sadly, a significant part of the neglect is from the fact that there is more of Euripedes left to read than Sophocles or Aeschylus. He's tougher to sum up or put on as a reading laurel.

None of those are good reasons for passing him over. Euripedes is astonishingly modern. Characters behave like actual flawed and greedy people. The political analysis of crowd mentality and fear mongering is very insightful - this volume is a very powerful study of the post 9/11 years if read that way. There's just a lot going on.

This particular translation is worth twice the money just for the introduction. Vellacott does a great job of describing the political situation relevant at the performance of each play. Even more important, the readings of the play are very sophisticated, often rescuing plays from mediocre critical analysis. An enjoyable thing to do is to read Cliff's Notes interpretation after reading Vellacott, and then throwing them away.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Vellacott!, June 5, 2009

By 

Ryan Kouroukis "In 1882 Richard Wagner said: ... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Orestes and Other Plays (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

What a shame that no one has written a review of Vellacott's Penguin edition of "Orestes and Other Plays".

These 6 plays are essential in Eurpipidean and Vellacott-ian studies!

They are amazing versions, the best on the market after comparing them to multiple other versions.

Vellacott includes fantastic introdutions and notes to: Orestes, Phoenecian Women, Suppliant Women, Children of Heracles, Andromache and Iphigenia in Aulis.

Like I said in my other review, Vellacott and Penguin brought Euripides into our modern world, and it is really to him that we are able to appreciate the Great Euripides!