Heracles and Other Plays

part of the complete plays, excellent quality.

Great

Robin Waterfield writes in a clear, accessible, contemporary manner. Some people like slightly archaic sounding translations to match the archaism of the original. My point of view, shared by many others, is that readers/listeners of the original Greek were listening to contemporary, though somewhat literary Greek. Therefore, a translation shouldn't sound archaic, but contemporary. Socrates, in Plato's writings, shouldn't sound like a nineteenth century English gentleman. He was talking to his contemporaries in the vernacular. If you share my preferences, you should buy this translation and if not, not. Also, the notes in these Oxford translations are copious and excellent. They can be easily ignored as they are end notes. But I found them very useful for understanding references. Writers of tragedies varied their language in the interests of avoiding repetition so they will say 'those who live by the Eurotas' rather than saying 'Spartans' or Lacedaemanians yet again - and if you don't know all the names of Ancient Greek rivers you won't know what he is talking about!

good book