Bacchae
Page turning
Expressive
Tragic

Bacchae

A bold new translation of Euripides’ shockingly modern classic work, from Forward Prize-winning poet, Robin Robertson, with a new introduction by bestselling and award-winning writer, critic and translator Daniel Mendelsohn. Thebes has been rocked by the arrival of Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. Drawn by the god’s power, the women of the city have rushed to worship him on the mountain, drinking and dancing with frenzied abandon. Pentheus, the king of Thebes, is furious, denouncing this so-called “god” as a charlatan and an insurgent. But no mortal can deny a god, much less one as powerful and seductive as Dionysus, who will exact a terrible revenge on Pentheus, drawing the king to his own tragic destruction. This stunning translation by award-winning poet Robin Robertson reinvigorates Euripides’ masterpiece. Updating it for contemporary readers, he brings the ancient verse to fervid, brutal life, revealing a work of art as devastating and relevant today as it was in the fifth century, BC.
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Reviews

Photo of Alison Hinklom
Alison Hinklom@alisq
4 stars
Aug 7, 2025
Photo of Miles
Miles@mimimimiles
3.5 stars
Mar 20, 2025
Tragic
Expressive
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sophie <3@chatnoirreads
4 stars
Dec 28, 2024
Photo of Gemma
Gemma@gem27
4.5 stars
Sep 29, 2024
Inventive
Light hearted
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Alba Ramos@albusdumb
3 stars
May 25, 2024
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Kendall McClain@kendallmcclain
3 stars
Jan 29, 2024
Photo of Kendall McClain
Kendall McClain@kendallmcclain
4 stars
Jan 29, 2024
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Hunty@junguji
4 stars
Jan 7, 2024
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Anushka Saha@aksli19
4 stars
Aug 3, 2023
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anarh@monstermobster
4.5 stars
Feb 6, 2023
Photo of Fran Lewis
Fran Lewis@franlewis
2 stars
Dec 23, 2022
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olivia musick@oliviamusick
3 stars
Sep 19, 2022
Photo of eden
eden@valentinetexas
3 stars
Aug 14, 2022
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Charlotte J. Ruth@charlottejruth
3 stars
Aug 12, 2022
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Antonia Folch@sneakydragon
4 stars
Jun 20, 2022
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dana@apotheosis
5 stars
Apr 12, 2022
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Alaia@moiralaia
4 stars
Jan 8, 2022
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Samantha Bass@wewriteatdawn
3 stars
Oct 20, 2021
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Nikki Sojkowski@loveat1stwrite
4 stars
Oct 14, 2021
Photo of Nikki Sojkowski
Nikki Sojkowski@loveat1stwrite
3 stars
Oct 14, 2021
Photo of Nikki Sojkowski
Nikki Sojkowski@loveat1stwrite
4 stars
Oct 14, 2021
Photo of Nikki Sojkowski
Nikki Sojkowski@loveat1stwrite
3 stars
Oct 14, 2021
Photo of Nikki Fowler
Nikki Fowler @furphyfox99
3 stars
Sep 25, 2021
Photo of Gabriela Roxana
Gabriela Roxana @shiftyreads
4 stars
Sep 1, 2021

Highlights

Photo of Gemma
Gemma@gem27
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Rebecca Moraglia@rebeccamoraglia
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Samuel Barnes@samuelbarnes
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