I'm in a humanities program at the University of Vermont, and this book was like watching "Roseanne" after a marathon of "The McGlocklin Group" (or however one spells that). It's not humoruous in the way that many fine Shakespere funny--Aristoph. actually made me laugh out loud! Read this when you're in the mood for something witty, but not too pretentious.

I first stumbled across this edition whilst searching the web for an acting edition of Oedipus to use with my Year Eleven Drama class. Once I received this edition I was so pleased that I had taken the gamble to purchase it.

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.

Robert Fagles is an excellent translator generally, and if you have never read the Greek classics before, I would recommend this one. He puts more emotion and excitement into the plays than most of his contemporaries do.

However, even though I love Fagles and was quite impressed by his Homer translations, his Aeschylus is probably not the best out there. If you are looking to truly study Aeschylus rather than just read it for pleasure, I would recommend, instead, the Lattimore translation. It is far harder to get into initially, but more rewarding, as the translation is more literal yet still superb. Do not be afraid!

The Oresteia is the only extant Greek trilogy. Made up of Agememnon, The Libation Bearers, and the Eumenides the trilogy presents man's progress from blood feud to the beginnings of democracy.

Agememnon is the traditional and essential Greek tragedy. This play show mankind at its most savage. (...) It is the second generation of the curse on the house of Atreus. (...) Clytaemnestra is one of literature's great creations and a memorable character known for her cunning and ruthlessness.

The Libation Bearers continues the story. Agememnon's son Orestes plots revenge with his sister, Electra. The message here seems to be that blood begets blood. (...)

The Eumenides is the first courtroom drama. Here we witness the birth of the democratic process. (...) Man has moved from the age of the blood feud to the dawn of democracy in less than 300 pages.

On the whole the trilogy is not light reading. The Fagles translation attempts to preserve the poetry of the work to a large extent. However Aeschylus was never easy to relate to even in the 5th Century B.C. he was considered archaic. The trilogy deserves a read just on the strength of its importance to western civilazation. The reader needs a good bit of patience but will find himself rewarded if he sticks with this work.

If reading the Fagles translation it may be helpful to read the lengthy introduction "The Serpent and the Eagle" for a good guide to the work. The intro is long and somewhat tedius but it places the work in an historical perspective that is helpful as one gets deeper and deeper into the text. The textual notes are inconvieniently placed at the end of the work which make them a chore to read except for the most interested scholars.

Try this one you won't regret it.

Professor Fagles' translation of the Oresteia trilogy is the most powerful, moving, intense, bloody, achingly sad and beautiful drama I have ever read. As a typical member of the late Baby Boomer/early Gen X generation, I was never assigned such texts in school, and had the misconception that anything written by an ancient Greek must be boring, stale, and irrelevant. Fagles' Oresteia translation shows how misguided we are, and (along with his Illiad, Odyssey, and Three Theban Plays) opens up an incredible world to so many of us who have been in the dark.

Do not read this simply for your intellectual, moral, and spiritual improvement -- experience this because it is so enjoyable. "Pulp Fiction," "The Terminator," "The Titanic," Stephen King, or the latest Martin Scorcese film cannot compare for plot, intrigue, sex, violence, gore, intensity, entertainment, or cutting edge creativity.

From the plays' depiction of horrendous and unspeakable crimes to its climactic courtroom drama, you'll see why so many ancient playgoers fainted in the audience -- some women even having spontaneous miscarriages -- and why modern readers are so shocked and on the edge of their armchairs. Even if you've never read a "classic" or a "great book," read this.