Euripides and His Age

"Euripides and His Age" by Gilbert Murray is a comprehensive historical analysis written in the early 20th century. This work explores the life and significance of the ancient Greek playwright Euripides, discussing both his contributions to drama and the cultural context of his time. It examines how Euripides's innovative approaches to tragedy reflect the complexities of human experience, as well as his perspectives on society and morality. At the start of the book, the author provides an insightful introduction into Euripides's life, highlighting his background and the ironies of his career, including his posthumous acclaim despite his struggles for recognition during his lifetime. Murray addresses the contrasting views of Euripides as a thinker and a poet, detailing how his works were received by contemporaries and their lasting impact on literature and thought. The opening sets the stage for a deeper examination of Euripides’s plays and the themes that defined his artistry, emphasizing the critical relationship between the playwright and the Athenian society of his day. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

George Gilbert Aimé Murray was an Australian-born British classical scholar and public intellectual, with connections in many spheres. He was an outstanding scholar of the language and culture of Ancient Greece, perhaps the leading authority in the first half of the twentieth century. He is the basis for the character of Adolphus Cusins in his friend George Bernard Shaw's play Major Barbara, and also appears as the chorus figure in Tony Harrison's play Fram.