Overview

Euripides' Medea comes alive in this new translation that will be useful for both academic study and stage production. Diane J. Rayor's accurate yet accessible translation reflects the play's inherent theatricality and vibrant poetry. The book includes an analytical introduction and comprehensive notes, and an essay on directing Medea by stage director Karen Libman. The play begins after Medea, a princess in her own land, has sacrificed everything for Jason: she helped him in his quest for the Golden Fleece, eloped with him to Greece, and bore him sons. When Jason breaks his oath to her and betrays her by marrying the king's daughter - his ticket to the throne - Medea contemplates the ultimate retribution. What happens when words deceive and those you trust most do not mean what they say? Euripides' most enduring Greek tragedy is a fascinating and disturbing story of how far a woman will go to take revenge in a man's world.

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9781107015661

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Reviews

'Diane Rayor's new translation of Medea is accurate and playable. Performers, directors, and students will find the help they need in the well-informed notes, and audiences and readers will enjoy the beauties of the poetry, which is lean, unpretentious, and powerfully direct.' John Gibert, University of Colorado 'Diane Rayor's Medea, forged in and for live performance, energetically renders Euripides for a contemporary audience. Spare yet graceful, this close translation uses natural English idiom while preserving the cultural background of the original. With engaging notes to supplement the text, this is an excellent choice for the classroom or any reader who wants to see why Medea is a masterpiece.' Deborah Boedeker, Brown University 'This Medea is the most accessible translation that I have ever come across. There is nothing intimidating here. The text is fresh, telling the story in a direct, clear language best appreciated when spoken aloud. The author provides copious notes on the verse and essays that help the reader contextualize the play. It is an ideal choice for students or actors.' Chris Hayes, Director, London Theatre Exchange

'Diane Rayor's new translation of Medea is accurate and playable. Performers, directors, and students will find the help they need in the well-informed notes, and audiences and readers will enjoy the beauties of the poetry, which is lean, unpretentious, and powerfully direct.' John Gibert, University of Colorado 'Diane Rayor's Medea, forged in and for live performance, energetically renders Euripides for a contemporary audience. Spare yet graceful, this close translation uses natural English idiom while preserving the cultural background of the original. With engaging notes to supplement the text, this is an excellent choice for the classroom or any reader who wants to see why Medea is a masterpiece.' Deborah Boedeker, Brown University 'This Medea is the most accessible translation that I have ever come across. There is nothing intimidating here. The text is fresh, telling the story in a direct, clear language best appreciated when spoken aloud. The author provides copious notes on the verse and essays that help the reader contextualize the play. It is an ideal choice for students or actors.' Chris Hayes, Director, London Theatre Exchange Diane Rayor's new translation of Medea is accurate and playable. Performers, directors, and students will find the help they need in the well-informed notes, and audiences and readers will enjoy the beauties of the poetry, which is lean, unpretentious, and powerfully direct. - John Gibert, University of Colorado Diane Rayor's Medea, forged in and for live performance, energetically renders Euripides for a contemporary audience. Spare yet graceful, this close translation uses natural English idiom while preserving the cultural background of the original. With engaging notes to supplement the text, this is an excellent choice for the classroom or any reader who wants to see why Medea is a masterpiece. - Deborah Boedeker, Brown University This Medea is the most accessible translation that I have ever come across. There is nothing intimidating here. The text is fresh, telling the story in a direct, clear language best appreciated when spoken aloud. The author provides copious notes on the verse and essays that help the reader contextualize the play. It is an ideal choice for students or actors. - Chris Hayes, Director, London Theatre Exchange

Author Information

Diane J. Rayor is Professor of Classics at Grand Valley State University, Michigan. She has written four translations of ancient Greek poetry and drama: Sophocles' Antigone: A New Translation (Cambridge, 2011), Homeric Hymns: A Translation, with Introduction and Notes (2004), Sappho's Lyre: Archaic Lyric and Women Poets of Ancient Greece (1991) and Callimachus with Stanley Lombardo (1988). She is co-editor of Latin Lyric and Elegiac Poetry (1995). In 2011, Rayor received the most prestigious faculty award at Grand Valley State University, the Glenn A. Niemeyer Outstanding Faculty Award, for excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. In 2010, Colorado College awarded Rayor the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

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