This masterly study by Mark Ringer demonstrates that Aeschylus is a subtle and audacious portrayer of the human subject. By analysing his six unquestionably authentic plays in chronological order, Ringer exposes the poet's growing mastery of characterisation, both in his individual protagonists and in the collective chorus. The chorus emerges as a living ensemble rather than a mere literary convention. Tragic compulsions, exemplified by Agamemnon's self-imposed 'yoke of necessity', are laid bare. Far from shying away from character analysis, Ringer's judicious character criticism illuminates how psychological transformation and moral conflict fuel drama's most electrifying moments. His incisive reading culminates in the Oresteia, demonstrating how Aeschylus crafts emotionally resonant theatre. I find Ringer's book both compelling and indispensable, an essential reading for scholars and students across the globe.

Andreas Markantonatos, University of the Peloponnese, Greece