Sophocles: Four Tragedies

Meineck and Woodruff's new annotated translations of Sophocles' Ajax, Women of Trachis, Electra, and Philoctetes combine the same standards of accuracy, concision, clarity, and powerful speech that have so often made their Theban Plays a source of epiphany in the classroom and of understanding in the theatre.  Woodruff's Introduction offers a brisk and stimulating discussion of central themes in Sophoclean drama, the life of the playwright, staging issues, and each of the four featured plays.

SKU
26416g

Ajax, Women of Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes

Translated, with Introduction and Notes, by Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff

2007 - 312 pp.

Grouped product items
Format ISBN Price Qty
Cloth 978-0-87220-764-6
$35.00
Paper 978-0-87220-763-9
$13.00
Instructor Examination (Review) Copy 978-0-87220-763-9
$2.00

eBook available for $10.95. Click HERE for more information.

Meineck and Woodruff's new annotated translations of Sophocles' Ajax, Women of Trachis, Electra, and Philoctetes combine the same standards of accuracy, concision, clarity, and powerful speech that have so often made their Theban Plays a source of epiphany in the classroom and of understanding in the theatre.  Woodruff's Introduction offers a brisk and stimulating discussion of central themes in Sophoclean drama, the life of the playwright, staging issues, and each of the four featured plays.

Reviews:

"In these new translations Meineck and Woodruff have struck a near-ideal balance between accuracy and readability, formality and colloquialism.  Their versions are simply a pleasure to read, conveying with remarkable vividness the powerful characterizations and poetic variety of the originals.  The addition of succinct but illuminating notes makes this an exemplary volume for anyone interested in Sophocles' dramatic art."
     —Andrew Szegedy-Maszak, Department of Classics, Wesleyan University

"[T]his sequel to the same pair's well-received translation of the Theban plays hits an appropriate mean . . . a text that I could happily adopt for teaching."
     —Malcolm Heath in Greece and Rome

Critical Acclaim for the Meineck and Woodruff Theban Plays:

"This edition of the Theban Plays is bound to excite . . . The translations and the quality and directness of Woodruff's discussions are enough to ensure that."
     —James Robson, The Joint Association of Classical Teachers Review 

"Presents a readable, clear translation with the assistance students will need to understand these plays and the society that produced them.  A worthy addition to Hackett's growing series of translations of classical literature in accessible editions."
     —Anne Mahoney, The New England Classical Journal

"[Meineck and Woodruff] succeed admirably, and I would not hesitate to teach from or to direct from these translations."
     —Amy R. Cohen, The Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"These eminently readable translations have real potential for teaching."
     —Eleanor OKell, The Classical Review

 

About the Authors:

Peter Meineck is Associate Professor of Classics at New York University, where he holds the endowed chair in Classics in the Modern World. He is the founder of Aquila Theatre. 

Paul Woodruff is Professor of Philosophy and Classics, University of Texas at Austin.

 

To view a complete listing of Hackett ancient Greek tragedies in translation, please click here.