A new classics-oriented reading group is forming at the Woods Hole Public Library this fall. They will begin by delving into Greek tragedies with the Oresteia. a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus in the 5th century BCE, concerning the murder of Agamemnon by Clytemnestra, the murder of Clytemnestra by Orestes, the trial of Orestes, the end of the curse on the House of Atreus and the pacification of the Furies. The group will meet on Monday, September 18, at 6:30pm to discuss the first of the trilogy, Agamemnon. Despite being written well over 2,000 years ago, the play’s themes of revenge, justice, power, and gender still captivate readers and provide ample fodder for conversation. The discussion group will continue to meet on the 3rd Monday of October and November, with discussions of The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides.
The discussion will be led by Ian Steller, a seasonal resident of the Upper Cape who has been coming to Woods Hole for several years. He believes that literature takes on a different color when it’s shared, and sees the library as a unique and conducive place for doing so. He teaches high school geometry and European history. Ian has also been leading classics reading groups at the Providence Athenaeum, and has generously offered to organize a similar undertaking at the Woods Hole Public Library.
To register for this reading group, please email the library at whpl_mail@clamsnet.org or call 508-548-8961. The recommended translation of the Oresteia is the Robert Fagles edition, though participants are welcome to read any translation of their choosing. Copies will be available to check out through the library.