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Fischer gives the reader a historiograhpic overview of the study of Paul Revere's ride, from the celebratory to the cynical, we are shown that this man and his actions have engendered lively debate in academia.
However, not many readers may give a fig about historiography. They will however be immediately drawn into this excellent narrative account of Revere's ride, its aftermath and the thorough background provided about his life, and the life of his "adversary" General Gage.
Fischer has done something that many historians long to do, write both a readable and academically solid book. I hope that historians can use this book as an example for how to write history, and the public will read it to see that history doesn't have to be horribly dull.
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If Sophocles' 'Oedipus the King' is the first detective story, than 'Bacchae' might be the first police procedural - a central sequence sees Pentheus arrest Dionysus and interrogate him, a scene as tightly written and suspenseful as any thriller. But detection and policing, embodying the forces of reason and the Law, have no power against the Irrational or Unknowable, and Pentheus is soon made mad, his order and sense of self in tatters. The terrible grip of irony familiar from Greek Tragedy gives the play a violent momentum, but the most extraordinary scenes take place offstage, related in vivid and tumultuous monolgues by messengers - the whirlwind revenge of Dionysus' female followers on the forces of surveilling civilisation, and the cruel enactment of the God's revenge. This idea of hearing about improbable catastrophes but not being able to see them adds ot the supernatural terror that is the play's fevered life-blood.
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For anyone searching for an 'acting' rather than 'literary' edition of Oedipus, I would strongly suggest that you have a close look at this publication. Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff's collaboration makes the tragedy of Oedipus very accessible for a modern audience. This publication contains an Introduction with explanations of the history of Greek theatre, the nature of tragedy, the function of the chorus, and an analysis of the plot and characterisation. This edition also comes with foot-of-the-page notes and stage directions which are valuable when studying Oedipus as Drama.
What I particularly liked about this publication was its readability, without being simplistic. This translation was characterised by clarity, accuracy, and power of language, retaining the emotion of the original text. I have been so impressed with this translation that I am seriously considering purchasing a class set to use with my students.
It was a pleasure to see a copy of Oedipus especially developed for the stage rather than the page.