An engaging argument for Greek tragedy's ability to transcend time and culture. A subtle plea for the arts to be woven into the fabric of life instead of shut up in elite corners of culture. Doerries uses his own experiences to make his case, and he is persuasive and urgent in his writing. ( )

This was one of those serendipitous finds that can change the direction of one's reading. I picked up an issue of Smithsonian Magazine and there was an article entitled "The Healing Power of Greek Tragedy" (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/healing-power-greek-tragedy-180965220/) about Doerries' Theater of War, a pick-up group of well-known actors who do dramatic readings before veterans, soldiers and families; victims of riots and natural disasters; wardens and prison personnel; medical and hospice staff; and others. Doerries, a trained classical philologist, does most of the translations himself, tailoring them to bring out the emotions of those in the audience, and each performance is followed by discussion and sharing, sometimes for hours. His goal is "to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable". Doerries was recently named New York City’s Public Artist in Residence. The Theater of War website is http://theaterofwar.com/, and at http://theaterofwar.com/cast you can see the phenomenal group of actors who work with Doerries, some from the beginning in 2008.

Doerries believes that the tragedies were written and performed to help the citizen-soldiers of Athens deal with just the sort of issues our own military faces today: PTSD, madness, suicide, feelings of betrayal, anger and guilt. All citizens were male and were required to serve in the endless wars Athens fought during this time (Sophocles would have been a general at this time). The performances were held in huge amphitheaters (frequently next to medical facilities, where they could be heard) so the citizen-soldiers could experience them together. Doerries describes his group's development and their first efforts to reach out to the military and prison systems, and intertwines these with excerpts from his own translations that illustrate specific reactions from soldiers and their families, prison staff, the dying and their caregivers, and the residents of Ferguson, among others. His descriptions of trips to Guantanamo and to various prison settings are especially eye-opening. The group has expanded its repertoire to reach out to other communities in crisis, and many of these projects can be read about on the website.

This is a moving and galvanizing book, sure to be of interest to those in crisis or working/living with someone who is. I think it will also be of great interest to those interested in Greek tragedy in general. Doerries has also published translations of four of the plays most used by the group: Sophocles' "Ajax", "Philoctetes", and "Women of Trachis"; and Aeschylus' "Prometheus Bound". These translations are collected in "All That You've Seen Here Is God". For anyone with access to Brooklyn Public Library, both books are available as ebooks. ( )