Mueller's translations are pretty exuberant, and I appreciated the spot-on transliterations of the hoots of insane/grieving/both people and names of persons and places. The borderline e e cummings'-esque composition is a little strange to approach, but the results of the typographical experimentation are largely positive, ending with a script that seems to respond to the energy expected to be brought to bear in whatever scene the actor is in. The essays are appreciated but don't come to much except "we don't know much about X", which what are you going to do. The Oresteia is so fundamental European literary and artistic traditions one has no choice but to give it five stars. To do otherwise, would be to lower the rating of Western Civilization itself. Yes, one must read the Oresteia, the question is how. I had the good fortune to be guided through it by an Oxford trained scholar when I was an undergraduate. If you passed by the opportunity to do this during your university years the task is more difficult.My advice would be to look for chances to attend live performances and then read the texts shortly before your night out at the theatre. The classical tragedies work very well on the live stage. I have seen productions that I have greatly enjoyed on Broadway and at Stratford. I fondly remember one very entertaining student production of the Furies that I saw at the University of Toronto. Aeschylus was a dramatist. Becoming acquainted with him should be fun.
the way each play builds on the next is great. I really liked the Eumenides
—Ashley
The House of Atreus gets my vote for most dysfunctional family ever.
—bethanywheatley
Gotta read this one with a class - It aint no Iliad!
—Trish123
Robert Fagles does the best translations.
—dnroxy4eva
Democracy > Blood revenge. Got it.
—wolfiebaby
