The Children of Heracles is a powerful and challenging tragedy of exile and supplication. Driven from their homeland by Eurystheus, king of Argos, the children of Heracles flee as fugitives throughout Greece until they are granted protection in Athens. However, their acceptance as political refugees threatens to cause civil revolt among the Athenians and hostile invasion from the Argives. The self-sacrifice of Heracles' daughter ensures a victory for Athens and the Heraclidae, but Heracles' mother Alcmene refuses to spare the life of Eurystheus, although he is a prisoner of war protected by Athenian law. The play shows the amorality of the powerful and the vulnerability of refugees in the most disturbing terms, making for a drama of continuing moral and political relevance to the modern world.
WILLIAM ALLAN is Assistant Professor of Classics at Harvard University. He is the author of The Andromache and Euripidean Tragedy (Oxford University Press, 2000)
240pp A5 cl 740 5 $59.99 / £35; pb 741 3 $28 / £16.50 (Published November 2001)
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CONTENTS PARALLEL GREEK TEXT AND ENGLISH TRANSLATION Commentary Bibliography and Index |
SOME COMMENTS BY REVIEWERS
"Allan's introduction is excellent, with sections
on the myth, dramatic structure, the 'supplication' theme in Greek
tragedy, the historical and social background, staging and date
of the play and representation in art. The commentary is full,
scholarly and very readable. The translation is more than adequate.
Aris & Phillips once again deserve our congratulations and
thanks for this admirable series." LACT
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