The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus
The heroic Greek dramas that have moved theatergoers and readers since the fifth century B.C.
Towering over the rest of Greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated Theban royal family—Antigone, Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus—are among the most enduring and timeless dramas ever written. Robert Fagles's authoritative and acclaimed translation conveys all of Sophocles's lucidity and power: the cut and thrust of his dialogue, his ironic edge, the surge and majesty of his choruses and, above all, the agonies and triumphs of his characters. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction and notes by the renowned classicist Bernard Knox.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Towering over the rest of Greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated Theban royal family—Antigone, Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus—are among the most enduring and timeless dramas ever written. Robert Fagles's authoritative and acclaimed translation conveys all of Sophocles's lucidity and power: the cut and thrust of his dialogue, his ironic edge, the surge and majesty of his choruses and, above all, the agonies and triumphs of his characters. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction and notes by the renowned classicist Bernard Knox.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Seemingly a more philosophical work of ancient Greek literature, this book revolves around the notion of fate and free will, leading to an ambiguous stance on whether fate trumps or free will prevails. Similar to other Greek epics, the tragedy of the book is heavily influenced by divine and mystical beings, before whom mortals are depicted to be powerless. While the plot/narrative may be thin and contains several loopholes , I wouldn't say it is lacking in entertainment value from a subjective standpoint.
p.s: The translation by Robert Fagles stands out in comparison to David Greene/Richard Lattimore, and the extended notes accompanying each play add a nice touch to the book
3.5/5
p.s: The translation by Robert Fagles stands out in comparison to David Greene/Richard Lattimore, and the extended notes accompanying each play add a nice touch to the book
3.5/5
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.