Andromache

A skillful translation of the classical French tragedy about the captivity of Hector's wife after her abduction by the son of Achilles. The rhymed couplets retain the simplicity of form and powerful language of the original. "[This translation] is a striking tour de force" (Hudson Review). Drawings by Igor Tulipanov.

What happens when duty, love, and vengeance collide in the aftermath of war?

• A Classic Love Quadrangle: Orestes loves Hermione, who loves King Pyrrhus, who in turn desires his Trojan captive, Andromache—a woman who loves only her dead husband, Hector.
• Greek Mythology Retelling: Set after the fall of Troy, this play puts legendary figures in an impossible position where Andromache must choose between her son’s life and her honor.
• Revenge Tragedy: Jilted and enraged, Hermione commands the obsessive Orestes to murder the king at the altar, setting the stage for a bloody conclusion.
• Masterful Translation: Experience Racine’s masterpiece through the celebrated English verse of poet Richard Wilbur, praised for its power and clarity.