Six Tragedies (Oxford World's Classics)

This translation was eminently readable. Would buy other translations by Emily Wilson.

I love Greek Tragediess but haven't read them in years. I have to admit the reason I decided to reread them at this time was because of Jeopardy questions and because I was rereading the Odyssey. Will let you know how they read when you are are older

The overpowering passion in these plays is terrifyingly believiable.

I had to read this book for my class which focuses on literature for Augustus to Nero.I have the kindle version. The starring in the e-book is really nice in elaborating on references which mention gods, events, et cetera that as an average contemporary reader we don't know about, but any Roman citizen reading this would have known. Yet I still think there were a lot more points that the book could have pointed out because really unless you have a very extensive knowledge of both Greek and Roman mythology it's easy to miss many enriching references in the tragedies. That is my main scruple with the book. As someone who does know Latin, for the syntax, I think it followed really well what you would expect from reading this in the original language which I really enjoyed. Latin prides itself on this paradoxical and ambiguous syntax that this translation did well capturing.Now for the actual content of the book:I love Seneca, most of the time. The plays Medea, Phaedra, Oedipus, and Thyestes do not disappoint. They are scattered with those stoic principles Seneca is so famous for. They have the fast pasted, passionate plots that you want in a tragedy. That being said Hercules Furens and Trojan Women, not so much. Both of these lack that spark of passion which makes all these other plays so interesting. They also seem to really not be focused on actual action but just retelling of former events.BE WARNED: These plays contain very graphic and violent depictions of murders of children, incest, and so forth just so you know. It is speculated that Seneca wrote these during the Neronian period so this graphic violence is directly correlated to a pessimism he suffered from living in such a period working under an emperor like Nero, but who knows

Ms Wilson gives valuable information on Seneca's life and times, which helps explain the content and tone of the tragedies. She also tracks how he influenced Elizabethan drama, from Kyd to Webster.

I'm very pleased with Seneca "Six tragedies", Emily Wilson's translation..

Son loves this. Beautiful !!!

Very dark, but that's the nature of Seneca.

FOR A UNI DEGREE

I wish this book had all the tragedies. But there are only 6.

as shown

Brilliant translation, exhaustive and clear footnotes. I wish there was a version with the original side by side, but this is as good at it gets

Very interesting rewritings by Seneca of some powerful Ancient Greek dramas. Helps if you know the Greeks in advance. Extremely useful notes by Emily Wilson. A bargain.