Euripides was born near Athens circa 480 BC and grew up during the years of the Athenian recovery af ter the Persian Wars. His first play was presented in 455 BC and he wrote some hundred altogether of which nineteen survived. He died in 406 BC at the court of the King of Macedon.

"'Euripides, the Athenian playwright who dared to question the whims of wanton gods, has always been the most intriguing of the Greek tragedians. Now, with translations aimed at the stage rather than the page, his restless intellect strikes the chord it always should have... a remarkable achievement both in itself and in reclaiming Euripides as a playwright whose works are still gloriously alive' Evening Standard"