I don't know which to be more excited about: that there's a new translation of some of Euripides' plays by brilliant translator Anne Carson (she did that fairly recent translation of Sappho's poems, "If not, Winter"), or that mention of it made the front page of the entertainment section of the Los Angeles Times! Hallelujah!
Like an idiot, I forgot to jot down the title. I think it's "Grief Lessons," but I'll run and check and then post again. I *did* jot down the four plays Carson translated for this book: Alkestis (usually transliterated "Alcestis"), Herakles (usually "Hercules"), Hekabe (usually Hecuba), and Hippolytos. I've only read one of them -- Alcestis -- and that was a long time ago. It's about a man who is promised by the god of death that when it's his time to go, he doesn't have to die if he can find someone willing to die for him. So he asks everyone he knows to please leave life in his stead. Believe it or not, it has a happy ending.
Would there be any interest in reading this next? We wouldn't have to read all four plays, but I can tell you right now, they're short. Even if we committed to reading just the introductory material by Carson, which reviewers say is excellent, and the first play in the collection, that would be quite wonderful. And of course everyone could read as much else as they want to.
The book is a hardcover since it just came out, but Amazon has it on sale for $12.97, which I think is pretty good. I'm dying to get it, so I hope everyone will do me the favor of giving me an excuse to buy a new book, since I only have several thousand on the shelves around me whining for my attention.
--Deborah, who realizes she is planning way too far ahead but doesn't care
Yep, it's called "Grief Lessons: Four Plays by Euripides." Sounds more fabulous every time I look at it.
The plays themselves are not necessarily the ones I'd have chosen if I were picking our next read. I would have liked to read Medea if we were reading Euripides, and Antigone if we were reading some other classic old dead Greek Guy. But Anne Carson is a brilliant poet and translator, so I can't resist. (Plus, it's not as if we never get to read those other ones if we don't read them *right now*.)
All right! We have a yes! I may just run with this, people!
I wasn't going to be able to hold out long against buying the book anyway, since Borders was cruel enough to send me a 30% off coupon. Their "Borders Rewards" program really seems worthwhile. They email you extra good discounts, which I of course appreciate. Also, maybe it's just my area (Los Angeles), but their classics section, at least so far as ancient Greek and Roman works, is generally a lot better than Bunns and Noodle. Ditto Shakespeare stuff.
Also, if you're a homeschooler, you can get an educator's discount card at either B&N or Borders. If the clerk says no, just keep insisting on speaking to a supervisor. Be polite, but firm. Ask them what the heck they have against homeschoolers -- no, wait, don't go there. Just stick to your main point, which is that teaching a few students you happen to be related to is still teaching. If you live in California and use the R-4 option, wave your printout around and speak in a brisk, no-nonsense tone about being a teacher. It worked for me.
