"Most Greek tragedies begin with a supernatural being, or royalty, or even the Chorus itself. This play, though, has no gods; it opens in the voice of the mortal of absolute lowest status in Greek society--not only a woman, but a slave; not only a slave, but a foreigner; indeed, a female foreign slave whose mistress is herself a refugee. . . . [D]eportation, extradition, asylum, exile--Martin emphasizes these timeless issues with a modern vocabulary out of our news cycles." --From the Introduction by A.E. Stallings

In this stunning translation, poet Charles Martin captures the rhythms of Euripides' original text through contemporary rhyme and meter that speak directly to modern readers. An introduction by classicist and poet A.E. Stallings examines the complex and multifaceted Medea in patriarchal ancient Greece. Perfect in and out of the classroom as well as for theatrical performance, this faithful translation succeeds like no other.