'Fans of Anne Carson, rejoice!... Carson's depth of knowledge about Greek mythology coupled with her poetic sensibility and illustrations is sure to breathe new life into this oft-told story.' Lit Hub H of H Playbook is an explosion of thought, in drawings and language, about a Greek tragedy called Herakles by the 5th-century BC poet Euripides. In myth Herakles is an embodiment of manly violence who returns home after years of making war on enemies and monsters (his famous "Labours of Herakles") to find he cannot adapt himself to a life of peacetime domesticity. He goes berserk and murders his whole family. Suicide is his next idea. Amazingly, this does not happen. Due to the intervention of his friend Theseus, Herakles comes to believe he is not, after all, indelibly stained by his own crimes, nor is his life without value. It remains for the reader to judge this redemptive outcome. "I think there is no such thing as an innocent landscape," said Anselm Kiefer, painter of forests grown tall on bones.
Anne Carson
Anne Carson is a Canadian poet, essayist, and translator known for her innovative and genre-defying work. She is best known for her collections of poetry, including "Autobiography of Red" and "The Beauty of the Husband," as well as her translations of ancient Greek texts such as "An Oresteia" and "If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho."
Carson's writing is characterized by its blend of classical mythology, personal narrative, and linguistic experimentation. Her work often challenges traditional notions of genre and form, pushing the boundaries of what poetry can be. Carson has been praised for her ability to create deeply emotional and intellectually stimulating work that defies easy categorization.
Carson has had a significant impact on contemporary literature, influencing a new generation of writers with her distinctive voice and innovative approach to storytelling. Her work has been celebrated for its lyrical beauty, intellectual rigor, and fearless exploration of complex themes such as love, loss, and desire.
One of Carson's most famous works is "Autobiography of Red," a novel-in-verse that reimagines the myth of the monster Geryon from Greek mythology. The book received widespread critical acclaim and solidified Carson's reputation as a leading voice in contemporary literature.
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