 
|
|
Paperback
Publisher: Harvest Books
Dudley Fitts
ISBN13: 9780156027649
Condition: USED - LIKE NEW
Notes:
Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
English versions of Sophocles’ three great tragedies based on the myth of Oedipus, translated for a modern audience by two gifted poets. Index.
| Customer Reviews: |
|
| |
| Smoothly-flowing presentation. |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
 |
|
These translations of the Oedipus cycle of Sophocles definitely are very readable and clearly understandable. They quite adequately convey the greatness of the works.
The commentaries, however, are rather sparse, and a good deal of their content is taken up with Fitzgerald's defense of some of his practices in trying to deliver a rendition true to the actual meaning of the drama; without, as he says, sending a literate reader running to a library, and without clogging up the dialog.
By comparison, the David Grene-Richard Lattimore version of Sophocles' 'Antigone', which I had just previously read, provided a good deal of supplementary material which preceded the text of the play. Therein was given a detailed account of the historical and legendary context of the play, as well as identification and explanation of many of the mythological allusions to be found in the dialog. Speaking for myself, I think this would have been a useful addition to the Fitzgerald book. Perhaps Fitzgerald thought this was unnecessary for that "literate reader" he was thinking of. To be fair, he does explain that he tries to massage the text to make those allusions more self-explanatory.
There is, however, a very interesting, though brief commentary by the translator on 'Oedipus at Colonus'. In this trenchant analysis, Fitzgerald advances his views on the ultimate vision of truth for which the aged playwright was reaching in this, his last play. But, in general, Fitzgerald seems more concerned with achieving a consistency of style and comprehensibility than with delving into the psychological aspects of the plays.
This edition will no doubt satisfy most people wishing to gain a knowledge and appreciation of these firmly established world classics.
|
| good |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
 |
|
my girls had to read this book as part of their summer homework and they enjoyed it.
|
| A true classic |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
|
|
Rereading - and teaching - "Oedipus Rex" as an adult was an interesting experience. While I am always a bit wary of translations, the text itself (as translated by Robert Fitzgerald) is rich with literary devices, and the use of foreshadowing is especially poignant. Sophocles adeptly leads his audience through a series of emotions, guiding responses and perceptions with ease. One characteristic of the play that I found most thought-provoking was the removal of violence. While I'm sure this was done in part to accommodate the logistics of the ancient Greek stage (how would you show someone hanging, for example), I can't help but feel it was also done in order to allow the audience to focus on the emotionally-charged consequences as opposed to the gore that is Oedipus' fate. A wonderful work.
|
| Among the Great Cycles |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
 |
|
Fitts and Fitzgerald produce dazzling, straight-to-the-heart renditions of Sophocles' masterpieces! The swiftness and momentum they create is astounding.
The only things to be aware of are a few very-minor-cuts and a sparseness in the rendering of the lines in each play. (The sparseness is typical and reminiscent of Fitzgerald's Homer. It works perfectly for Sophocles, but not at all for his Homer). The shortened aspects of the lines makes for continuous action in the drama and gives subtle joy while reading each play.
After searching long and hard for a secondary version of the Theban Plays, (I also have Meineck's and Woodruff's beautiful collaboration on Hackett as my main version) I thankfully came across this one which satisfied every wish I had about them...the most important for me of them being: readability, the capturing of poetics, the quickness & intensity and the print layout.
These guys work great together and do an incredible job with these plays! You can be sure that this edition of the Oedipus Cycle is among the Best translations available of them.
|
| Decent |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
|
|
The book was in decent shape--- the seller did inform me that they had to send a different copy from the one I originally ordered, so at least I was warned.
|
|
