Customer Reviews

Seneca's Oedipus (PBK)

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This is Ted Hughes in top form. While I think "The October Salmon" from RIVER is his greatest single poem, his translations of Seneca's OEDIPUS and Racine's PHEDRE and Euripedes' ALCESTIS are not just among the great works of the past century, translated or otherwise, but are the very pinnacle of great verse and outstrip even his own poems. His translations of Lorca's BLOOD WEDDING and Wedekind's SPRING AWAKENING are not to be missed either. Seneca's OEDIPUS is available I believe only in softcover. This work, by the way, is less a translation than a gigantic explosion of blood and fate intermingled. These "translations" shrivel all competitors.

It is many years since I read Sophocles' Oedipus. I found it then to be a most wonderful and exciting drama. more so than when I saw it on the stage. Reading this Ted Hughes' version of Seneca's Oedipus, I found the use of the english language to be overwhelmingly breathtaking, that the visual imagery conveyed by the words at times magnificently appropriately awful, and the story always gripping. Hughes used the words in relatively short phrases, like thoughts and fragments of thoughts but always with clear meaning. Recently performed in Melbourne, but unable to see it, I read a review of the performance, which prompted me to search for the book. It surpassed my expectations. A thoroughly good read.

And the book was in good fair condition, as described.