Reviews
"A formidable achievement that will stand as a definitive landmark. Virtually encyclopedic in its coverage, the book demonstrates magisterial control of the texts and their contexts." --Froma Zeitlin, Princeton University, Praise for the French edition: "A formidable achievement that will stand as a definitive landmark. Virtually encyclopedic in its coverage, the book demonstrates magisterial control of the texts and their contexts." --Froma Zeitlin, Princeton University, Praise for the French edition: "A milestone. . . . This undertaking is by far the most rich and the most learned which exists today on this subject. . . . For educated readers and classicists who wish to learn about Sophocles and Greek tragedy, it offers an exceptional panorama, which combines the pleasure of reading with flawless scholarship. For specialists, it offers a new methodological approach, set in historical perspective . . . It will no longer be possible to study Sophocles or Greek tragedy without referring to this work by Jouanna." --Laurent Pernot, Journal of Hellenic Studies Review, "A milestone. . . . This undertaking is by far the most rich and the most learned which exists today on this subject. . . . For educated readers and classicists who wish to learn about Sophocles and Greek tragedy, it offers an exceptional panorama, which combines the pleasure of reading with flawless scholarship. For specialists, it offers a new methodological approach, set in historical perspective. . . . It will no longer be possible to study Sophocles or Greek tragedy without referring to this work by Jouanna." --Laurent Pernot, Journal of Hellenic Studies, Praise for the French edition: "Everyone, from students to dedicated fans, will find something to interest them in this learned and wide-ranging book. Jouanna's discussions of whole plays and of individual scenes are invariably thorough, balanced, sensitive, and stimulating; they are also based on scrupulous examination of the sources, backed up by impeccable scholarship. Undergraduates in particular will find this book a valuable resource, since it provides an excellent introduction not just to Sophocles but to fifth-century theatre in general." --Matthew Wright, Classical Review, "Everyone, from students to dedicated fans, will find something to interest them in this learned and wide-ranging book. Jouanna's discussions of whole plays and of individual scenes are invariably thorough, balanced, sensitive, and stimulating; they are also based on scrupulous examination of the sources, backed up by impeccable scholarship. Undergraduates in particular will find this book a valuable resource, since it provides an excellent introduction not just to Sophocles but to fifth-century theatre in general." --Matthew Wright, Classical Review, " Regardless of its entanglements with democratic culture, Greek tragedy remains a nebulous, shimmering planet just barely visible to the naked human eye. Immense imagination and enormous erudition seem requisite to approaching the greatness and complexity of Sophocles' oeuvre. Jouanna has advanced the world's understanding closer to this elusive goal. " ---Joel Aiden Schlosser, Polis, The Journal for Ancient Greek and Roman Political Thought (AGPT), "[Jouanna's} book will give both classicists and general readers hours of pleasure. It is encyclopaedic, detailed, fascinating, readable and tremendous value for money." ---Marion Gibbs, Classics for All