Alcestis/Medea/The Children of Heracles/Hippolytus

'One of the best prose translations of Euripides I have seen' Robert Fagles

This selection of plays shows Euripides transforming the titanic figures of Greek myths into recognizable, fallible human beings.Medea, in which a spurned woman takes revenge upon her lover by killing her children, is one of the most shocking of all the Greek tragedies. Medea is a towering figure who demonstrates Euripides' unusual willingness to give voice to a woman's case.Alcestisis based on a magical myth in which Death is overcome, andThe Children of Heraclesexamines conflict between might and right, whileHippolytusdeals with self-destructive integrity.

Translated by JOHN DAVIE