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The Tenne Tragedies of Seneca, Volume 2
Part II
Troas
Medea
Agamemnon
Octavia
Hercules Oetaeus
Troas
Medea
Agamemnon
Octavia
Hercules Oetaeus
242 pages, Hardcover
Published November 20, 2015
About the author
Seneca
2,750 books3,987 followersLucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca or Seneca the Younger); ca. 4 BC – 65 AD) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero, who later forced him to commit suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to have him assassinated.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 10, 2020
I first heard praise about this set (and in particular Jasper Heywood's translation of Hercules Furens) nearly 20 years ago. I can’t remember the source, though it may have been T.S. Eliot. And with that encouragement, I started my journey to find a copy.
It hasn’t been easy. Until the mid 1990s, there was only one translation of this play other than Heywood’s. (Another appeared around 2016.) With that meager representation, it’s been tough to find a copy to read.
During my quest, I bought this volume from the 1920s. Although a beautiful book, it is almost unreadable due to its duplication of the obscure Elizabethan font.
Back on the search, I found a version published by the Indiana University Press in the 1960s, and that's the one I've been reading. Although it is easier to read, it is a tough go. Written in fourteeners, it is confounded by complicated syntax and archaic words. And the Indiana University Press offers no help – no footnotes or anything.
This is not for your average reader. If you have a love of drama (particularly renaissance English drama) you’ll probably want to land on this book at some point (preferrably the Indiana University edition).
Agamemnon **** -- As often noted, this play is probably mistitled. Agamemnon barely makes an appearance. Instead it should be called Clytemnestra.
Once you accept that this is not comparable in form or intent to Aeschylus or the Elizabethan’s, it is an enjoyable work. It’s presentation of the Agamemnon’s murder as revenge for Troy’s destruction is very powerful.
The John Studley translation has some beautiful parts and I particularly like his use of alliteration. It has a great sound to it. Unfortunately the very regular, end stopped, rhymed lines get rather monotonous, and a bit grating.
It would be hard to pick this up and read it cold. It's best to read a more recent translation, then you can relax and just enjoy the exotic language of Studley's translation. (05/20)
It hasn’t been easy. Until the mid 1990s, there was only one translation of this play other than Heywood’s. (Another appeared around 2016.) With that meager representation, it’s been tough to find a copy to read.
During my quest, I bought this volume from the 1920s. Although a beautiful book, it is almost unreadable due to its duplication of the obscure Elizabethan font.
Back on the search, I found a version published by the Indiana University Press in the 1960s, and that's the one I've been reading. Although it is easier to read, it is a tough go. Written in fourteeners, it is confounded by complicated syntax and archaic words. And the Indiana University Press offers no help – no footnotes or anything.
This is not for your average reader. If you have a love of drama (particularly renaissance English drama) you’ll probably want to land on this book at some point (preferrably the Indiana University edition).
Agamemnon **** -- As often noted, this play is probably mistitled. Agamemnon barely makes an appearance. Instead it should be called Clytemnestra.
Once you accept that this is not comparable in form or intent to Aeschylus or the Elizabethan’s, it is an enjoyable work. It’s presentation of the Agamemnon’s murder as revenge for Troy’s destruction is very powerful.
The John Studley translation has some beautiful parts and I particularly like his use of alliteration. It has a great sound to it. Unfortunately the very regular, end stopped, rhymed lines get rather monotonous, and a bit grating.
It would be hard to pick this up and read it cold. It's best to read a more recent translation, then you can relax and just enjoy the exotic language of Studley's translation. (05/20)
Displaying 1 of 1 review