Reading Greek Tragedy

by Simon Goldhill

Book Overview

This book is an advanced critical introduction to Greek tragedy. It is written specifically for the reader who does not know Greek and who may be unfamiliar with the context of the Athenian drama... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521315794
• ISBN13: 9780521315791
• Release Date: May 1986
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An introduction for anyone serious about understanding...

The two reviews here are silly and do not address the book directly. Goldhill is ambitious. He is trying to explain the nature of Greek tragedy and the circumstances of its development. He does this by discussing, in turn, particular works and particular themes. For instance, he discusses works that can only be understood in terms of the interworkings of the Greek polis and then describes the nature of the polis and its imhabitants. It is an impressive and illuminating product; those who are serious about understanding Greek tragedy should take the time to work though it.

Tempering the One Critique on this Page

Admittedly, I have not read this book, but I have read a number of Goldhill's essays on Greek tragedy, published in a variety of journals and collections. Goldhill is a fine scholar. He is certainly not the most readable, but few classicists are. While I cannot guarantee that this book is excellent or easy, I find it improbable (in the extreme) that it is wholly poor, certainly not to the extent that the reviewer above implies.