Greek Classics have long been the bedrock of a proper and thorough education. Reading about the tracks and lives of our ancestors cannot help but uplift us in our current life's path as it arms us with lessons of the past. Tomes have been written on the subject, but to put it in very modern, even economic terms, a recent article in the NY Times put it into such a perspective with an article on what books one finds on the shelves of the world’s most successful CEO’s. The article points out that one doesn’t find “how-to-business books” on their shelves, but rather works of philosophy, poetry, Greek classics, and other books of general knowledge.

Euripides' Medea, first produced in 431 BC, has long been considered one of the great masterpieces of classical Greek drama and has attracted attention in modern times as one of the first great works of feminist drama. The play pits Medea, a murderously passionate barbarian princess, against her husband, Jason, the leader of an expedition of Greek heroes who set out to capture the fabled Golden Fleece. Jason was successful on that voyage largely because of Medea's help, which required her to turn against her own family. They returned together, became husband and wife, and had two children. Now, however, Jason has married a princess of Corinth, and Medea faces an uncertain future in exile. Her response to this threat is the basis for one of the best known and most horrific plots in classical Greek drama.

Ian Johnston's new verse translation stays close to the original Greek text and offers a fluent English version, one which is particularly well suited to stage presentations of this famous work.

This play can be previewed by following the link to the preview page for this title.