Tony Harrison and the Classics comprises fifteen chapters examining the lasting importance of Tony Harrison's classical education, the extent of the influence of Greek and Roman texts on his subjects, themes, and styles, his contribution to knowledge and understanding of classical literature, his popularization of classical works, and his innovative treatment of classical drama in plays which have been performed globally. Harrison's work fosters debates about the role and perception of the classics and adaptations of classical literature in relation to education, 'high' and 'popular' culture, accessibility, and reception. A unifying theme of the collection is the way in which Harrison finds in classical literature fruitful matter for the articulation and dramatization of his longstanding preoccupations: language, class, access to art, and the causes and effects of war. Through his adaptations and translations, Harrison uses classical drama to stage interventions in modern politics, but neither idealizes nor romanticizes the ancient world, depicting inequality, bigotry, greed, and brutality.

About the Author
Sandie Byrne is Associate Professor in English, University of Oxford and a Fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford. She is the author of a number of books and articles on twentieth- and twenty-first-century literature.

Reviews
Byrne asserts that 'Harrison's work remains current, and Harrison himself remains news'... * Anja Muller-Wood, Classical Review *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198861072
Author Sandie Byrne
Format Hardback
Page Count 338
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 732g
Dimensions(mm) 241mm * 163mm * 23mm