Synopses & Reviews
Medea, from Greek mythology, was he daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis, Niece of Circe and the wife of Jason. Media is known in most Greek stories as an enchantress who would become the subject of of this tragedy by Euripides. The Euripides version differentiates itself from other tellings because it doesn't depict Medea is a crazy person who killed her children, but as a distressed and furious wife who is upset at Jason for leaving her to marry a princess. This is a classic tragedy by Euripides and is a popular work that was first performed in 431 BCE.
Review
Diane Arnson Svarlien's body of work means a quantum leap forward in the vibrancy and immediacy of classical verse drama. I first learned of her work when I was searching, madly, for a translation of Medea for a production I had been hired to direct. I sought out every published version. I tried to track down any unpublished ones rumored to exist. All the others were wanting; her translation was revelatory. Merely read her translation of the play, then read another. You will sense the difference. This is particularly true if you are a practitioner of theatre.--Patrick Wang, Director of Diane Arnson Svarlien's Medea in its world premiere at the Stella Adler Studio, and of the feature film In the Family,nominated for a "Best First Feature" Independent Spirit Award. Retrieved from monkeyatatypewriter.com.
Review
Fluid, lively, and accurate! --Amy Vail, Department of Classics, Baylor University
Synopsis
This is the Medea we have been waiting for. It offers clarity without banality, eloquence without pretension, meter without doggerel, accuracy without clumsiness. No English Medea can ever be Euripides', but this is as close as anyone has come so far, and a good deal closer than I thought anyone would ever come. Arnson Svarlien has shown herself exceedingly skillful in making Euripides sound Euripidean.--David M. Schaps, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
About the Author
Diane Arnson Svarlien earned her PhD in Classics at The University of Texas at Austin and lives in Lexington, Kentucky.