This is the story of Odysseus and his men, seeking food and supplies, landing near Mt. Etna and trapped in the cave of a Cyclops, a one-eyed being of fearsome strength and ferocity with an appetite for human flesh. With cunning and guile, Odysseus blinds the monster and, with his men, is able to make his escape from the clutches of the drunken Cyclops and flee the island. A satyr play from the early Athenian theatre, and authored by one of the great tragedists of ancient times, this story of Odysseus and the Cyclops has been translated many times over the centuries. However, this particular translation is a poor attempt to translate this play into contemporary American English, and I would encourage those interested in this story to read a more true to form translation, such as the one found in the Loeb Classics (Euripides Volume I) published by Harvard University (available in the 2nd Floor Humanities Library under call number PA3975 .A2 2001).
Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PA3975.C9.M39 2001
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Kevin Ross, Associate Dean, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Not Recommended