Sudden burst of productivity

Having been freed from the constraints of exams, I’m thoroughly enjoying reading for wider interest. (No results as yet; I’m slightly disappointed by a good but not outstanding first class mark for an art essay, but am trying to get a grip.) Clearly the answer is to avoid the grandiose reading list and just read.

I thoroughly enjoyed Simon Goldhill’s How to Stage Greek Tragedy Today, not least because I’ve seen several of the productions he discusses. He makes excellent points about the reasons why they succeed or fail, in terms of audience impact. It has also made me want to see another production at the earliest opportunity; there seems to be a very good Oedipus (not sure which one; possibly all three) at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, so I’m contemplating the logistics of a quick dash further North.

It’s also made me want to catch up with Greek drama I haven’t studied in detail yet – so far Sophocles’ Electra, which is a tremendous play. I’m taking advantage of Blackwell’s Loeb centenary celebrations to complete my collection. As I may have said before, I do love the Loebs (those with recent translations). Once, long ago, I wrote an essay on King Alfred’s Metres of Boethius almost solely to justify the purchase of the relevant Loeb. There’s something about their hardback weight relative to their size, and cheerfully bright paper jackets, that makes them very pleasing.

Currently I’m engaged in Hugh Bowden’s Classical Athens and the Delphic Oracle, which is admirably clear and to the point. I had assumed, largely based on Thucydides, that fifth century Athenians did not really put any faith in oracles in affairs of state, but it appears to be more complicated than that.

And of course, when brainpower is at a low ebb, there’s re-reading novels and crime fiction. Happy summer days.

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