Persians

The Persians Aeschylus'' earliest surviving tragedy holds a fascination both for readers of Greek drama and Greek history. Not only is it the earliest existing play in the Western tradition it is drawn directly from the playwright''s own experiences at the battle of Salamis making it the only account of the Persian Wars composed by an eyewitness. And as pure tragedy it is a masterpiece. Aeschylus tells the story of the war from the Persian point of view and his pride in the great victory of Greeks is tempered with a real compassion for Xerxes and his vanquished nation. Lembke and Harrington have rendered this stunning work in a modern translation that loses none of the original''s dramatic juxtaposition of serenity and violence hope and despair.