Sophocles wrote over 120 plays, but only seven have survived the last 2,400 years. This collection brings them all together. You get the famous Theban plays—Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone—which follow one family's tragic curse. Then there are four standalone stories: Ajax, about a soldier's wounded pride; The Women of Trachis, a brutal tale of love and a poisoned shirt; Electra, a story of revenge; and Philoctetes, where a wounded archer holds the key to winning a war.

The Story

There isn't one plot, but a series of intense, character-driven crises. In Oedipus the King, a ruler searches for the source of a plague, only to uncover a horrifying truth about his own past. In Antigone, a young woman defies the king's order to give her brother a proper burial, forcing a clash between family duty and state law. Each play is a tight, powerful explosion of fate, free will, and moral conflict, usually ending in ruin or hard-won wisdom.

Why You Should Read It

I was shocked by how modern these characters feel. Oedipus isn't just a puppet of fate; he's stubborn, brilliant, and desperate to do the right thing, which is exactly what destroys him. Antigone's defiance is breathtaking. The language in this verse translation keeps the poetry and rhythm alive without feeling stiff. You're not reading history; you're watching people you recognize make impossible decisions under unbearable pressure.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a great story about flawed, passionate people. If you enjoy the family drama in Succession, the moral puzzles in The Good Place, or the raw emotion in a Shakespeare tragedy, you'll find Sophocles was there first. It's not light reading, but it's incredibly powerful and surprisingly fast-paced. A must for curious readers who want to see where Western drama began.