130,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery πŸš€ Auckland Bookstore β€’ Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Sophokles Antigone

Series: Modern Classics
Brief Description
"A marvellous new translation by Anne Carson that crackles with canny colloquialism and insight" - Arts Desk When her dead brother is decreed a traitor, Antigone refuses to leave his body unburied. Defying her uncle's governance, she forges ahead with the funeral alone, placing personal allegiance... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2499
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

A contemporary version of Sophokles' tragedy, translated by T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Anne Carson into a raw, beautiful and unshakable play.

A contemporary version of Sophokles' tragedy, translated by T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Anne Carson into a raw, beautiful and unshakable play.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
"A marvellous new translation by Anne Carson that crackles with canny colloquialism and insight" - Arts Desk

When her dead brother is decreed a traitor, Antigone refuses to leave his body unburied. Defying her uncle's governance, she forges ahead with the funeral alone, placing personal allegiance before politics; a tenacious act that will trigger a cycle of destruction.

T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Anne Carson offers a vivid translation of Sophokles' tragic masterpiece that was first staged in a ground-breaking production at the Barbican in 2015, directed by Ivo van Hove.

A raw and beautiful adaption, Sophokles Antigone is published in Methuen Drama's Modern Classics series and features a new introduction by Laura Jansen.

Series: Modern Classics

View all
  • I am David
    You must get away tonight, the man had told him. David escapes from the concentration camp where he has spent his entire life and flees across Europe. He is utterly alone – who can he trust? What will await him? And all the while, how can he be sure that they won’t catch up with him... This is the remarkable...
    Paperback
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • A Raisin in the Sun
    β€œCome to A Raisin in the Sun as you would to any classic. It speaks to us today as it did almost half a century ago.” – Bonnie Greer In South Side Chicago, Walter Lee, a Black chauffeur, dreams of a better life and hopes to use his father's life insurance money to open a liquor store. His mother, who...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Blood Brothers
    A Liverpudlian West Side Story: twin brothers are separated at birth because their mother cannot afford to keep them both. She gives one of them away to wealthy Mrs Lyons, and they grow up as friends, unaware of their fraternity until the inevitable quarrel unleashes a bloodbath. Willy Russell is less concerned with political tub-thumping than with weaving a close-knit...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Accidental Death of an Anarchist
    In its first two years of production in Italy, Dario Fo's notorious Accidental Death of an Anarchist was seen by over half a million people. It has since been performed all over the world, and has become a classic of twentieth-century drama. A sharp and hilarious satire on police corruption, it concerns the case of an anarchist railway worker who,...
    Paperback
    $2699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Educating Rita
    Educating Rita, about a working-class Liverpool girl's hunger for education, is simply a marvellous play, painfully funny and passionately serious; a hilarious social documentary; a fairy-tale with a quizzical, half-happy ending. Sunday Times Educating Rita premiered at the RSC Warehouse, London, in June 1980. Voted Best Comedy of 1980, it was subsequently made into a highly successful film with Michael...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Lieutenant of Inishmore
    Wee Thomas was a friendly cat. He would always say hello to you were you to see him sitting on a wall. (Pause.) He won't be saying hello no more, God bless him. Not with that lump of a brain gone. Who knocked Wee Thomas over on the lonely road on the island of Inishmore, and was it an accident?...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Mother Courage and Her Children
    In this chronicle of the European Thirty Years War, taking place between the years 1624 and 1636, Mother Courage follows the armies back and forth across Europe, selling provisions and liquor from her canteen wagon to whomever she can. One by one she loses her children to the war but will not part with her livelihoodβ€”the wagon. The Berlin production...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Photograph 51
    Ziegler’s thoughtful, empathetic play brings home with bitter comedy the unlovely male-domination of this world in the 1950s ... glorious." Independent London 1953. Scientists are on the verge of discovering what they call the secret of life: the DNA double helix. Providing the key is driven young physicist Rosalind Franklin. But if the double helix was the breakthrough of the...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?
    Albee’s perversely funny sendup of a standard mid-life crisis drama … dares to suggest that even the most flawed and confused human beings deserve compassionate understanding, and the failure to proffer it is a species of bestiality far more abhorrent than the sexual kind. Variety On his 50th birthday, Martin, a world-famous architect, prepares for a recorded interview by an...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Fear and Misery of the Third Reich
    Also known as The Private Life of the Master Race, this is a sequence of twenty-four realistic sketches showing how "ordinary" life under the Nazis was subtly permeated by suspicion and anxiety. Written in exile in Denmark and first staged in 1938, it was inspired in part by Brecht's recent trip to Moscow where he had been researching tasks for...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Caucasian Chalk Circle
    Written in exile during the Second World War, the story of Brecht's classic play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, subverts an ancient Chinese taleβ€”echoed in the Judgement of Solomonβ€”in which two women claim the same child. The message of Brecht's parable is that resources should go to those who will make the best use of them. Thanks to the rascally judge,...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • A Taste Of Honey
    A Taste of Honey became a sensational theatrical success when first produced in London by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop company. It was made into a highly acclaimed film in 1961. The play is about the adolescent Jo and her relationships with those around herβ€”her irresponsible, roving mother Helen and her mum's newly acquired drunken husband, the black sailor who leaves...
    Paperback
    $2699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781350600379

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Methuen Drama

Contributors:

  • Adapted by Anne Carson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 194.0mm

Weight: 74g

Pages: 72

About the Author

Anne Carson is a MacArthur Fellow; she has received the Lannan Prize, the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Pushcart Prize, the Griffin Poetry Prize (twice-awarded), and was an Anna-Maria Kellen Fellow at the American Academy in Berlin, Germany. Anne adapted The Bakkhai for the Almeida in 2015. Classic Stage Company in New York has produced An Oresteia (a trilogy adapted from Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Sophokles’ Electra and Euripides’ Orestes) in repertory. Norma Jeanne Baker of Troy (a version of Euripides' Helen) has been staged at The Shed in New York. An opera-version of H of H Playbook will be produced in Basel in 2027, composed by Bruce Dessner.

Also by Sophocles

View all
  • The Theban Plays
    The legends surrounding the royal house of Thebes inspired Sophocles (496-406 BC) to create a powerful trilogy about mankind's struggle against fate. King Oedipus tells of a man who brings pestilence to Thebes for crimes he does not realise he has committed and who then inflicts a brutal punishment upon himself. With profound insights into the human condition, it is...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Three Theban Plays
    The heroic Greek dramas that have moved theatre-goers and readers since the fifth century B.C. Towering over the rest of Greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated Theban royal familyβ€”Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonusβ€”are among the most enduring and timeless dramas ever written. Robert Fagles's authoritative and acclaimed translation conveys all of...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Electra and Other Plays
    A new translation by David Raeburn, with introduction and notes by Pat Easterling Sophocles' innovative plays transformed Greek myths into dramas featuring complex human characters, through which he explored profound moral issues. Electra portrays the grief of a young woman for her father Agamemnon, who has been killed by her mother's lover. Aeschylus and Euripides also dramatized this story, but...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Greek Tragedy
    Greek Tragedy brings together the masterpieces of classical tragedy in one volume, making it the ideal single-volume introduction for theatre-goers, actors, general readers, and students of Classics, English Literature, and Drama. Agememnon is the first part of Aeschylus's Orestian trilogy, where the leader of the Greek army returns from the Trojan War only to be murdered by his treacherous wife,...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Antigone
    The gods never move faster than when punishing men with the consequences of their own actions. Desperate to gain control over a city ravaged by civil war, Creon refuses to bury the body of Antigone's rebellious brother. Outraged, she defies his edict. Creon condemns the young woman, his niece, to be buried alive. The people dare not object, but the...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Oedipus the King, Second Edition
    An updated stand-alone edition of Sophocles's Oedipus the King taken from Chicago's renowned translations of the Greek tragedies. Over the years, David Grene and Richmond Lattimore's Complete Greek Tragedies have been the preferred translations of millions of readersβ€”for personal libraries, individual study, and classroom use. Drawn from the authoritative third edition of the University of Chicago Press's classic series, this...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Antigone. Women of Trachis. Philoctetes. Oedipus at Colonus
    Sophocles (497/6–406 BCE), with Aeschylus and Euripides, was one of the three great tragic poets of Athens and is considered one of the world's greatest poets. The subjects of his plays were drawn from mythology and legend. Each play contains at least one heroic figure, a character whose strength, courage, or intelligence exceeds the human normβ€”but who also has more...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Antigone
    A stand-alone edition of Sophocles's Antigone taken from Chicago's renowned translations of the Greek tragedies. Drawn from the authoritative third edition of the University of Chicago Press's Complete Greek Tragedies series, this stand-alone edition of Elizabeth Wyckoff's elegant rendition of Antigone reminds readers why it endures as one of the most widely read and admired of Sophocles's plays. Though the...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • The Greek Tragedies
    Chicago's renowned translations of the greatest surviving plays of ancient Greece, collected into a single volume. Drawn from the authoritative third editions of David Grene and Richmond Lattimore's collections of the complete Greek tragedies, expertly updated by Mark Griffith and Glenn W. Most, this collection brings together seventeen of the greatest surviving plays of ancient Greece. Combining accuracy, poetic immediacy,...
    Paperback
    $6400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Sophocles II
    Sophocles II contains the plays Ajax, translated by John Moore; The Women of Trachis, translated by Michael Jameson; Electra, translated by David Grene; Philoctetes, translated by David Grene; and The Trackers, translated by Mark Griffith. Sixty years ago, the University of Chicago Press undertook a momentous project: a new translation of the Greek tragedies that would be the ultimate resource...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Oedipus the King
    Since it was first performed in Athens in the 420s BC, Oedipus the King has been widely regarded as Sophocles' greatest tragedy and one of the foundation stones of western drama. Taken as a model by Aristotle in his Poetics, it became a yardstick for future generations. Since the play's rediscovery in the Renaissance, audiencesβ€”including Sigmund Freudβ€”have found new interpretations...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Antigone
    Thebes is under attack. In a bloody battle outside the city’s gates, the sons of Oedipus fight to the death. King Creon issues an edict: Eteocles, who nobly defended Thebes against his brother and the invading army, is to be buried a hero; the body of his treacherous brother must be left to rot. Antigone and her uncle are locked...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    I’ll Believe in Anything
    From Jacob Tierney, the creator ofΒ Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and AccentΒ Aigu, comesΒ I’llΒ Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Based on Rachel Reid’s blockbuster Game Changers book series,Β Heated RivalryΒ premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 andΒ immediatelyΒ took the world by storm.Β I’ll...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    16% off
    New Release
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoirΒ Home Again.This is more than a rock story.Β Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it.Β From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    20% off
    The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    21% off
    The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017β€”revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)β€”critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    On Sale
    20% off
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Birdlands Birdlands
    New Release
    Birdlands
    A rare, intimate journey into the wild islands where Aotearoa's birds live beyond the reach of most human lives. In the most remote outposts of Aotearoa, our islands are populated not with people, but with birds. From the storm-lashed Subantarctic Islands in the deep south to the scattered volcanic islands of Tikapa Moana/Hauraki Gulf in the north, Birdlands offers a...
    Hardback
    $4199
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    21% off
    This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $5800
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Split Enz
    New Release
    Split Enz
    'My favourite band. Ever! And certainly the best dressed.' Sam Neill Split Enz were never designed to fit. Emerging from art school mischief in early-1970s New Zealand, they turned pop into surreal theatre: costume, character and melody colliding in a rock band that refused to behave like one. At the centre of that vision was Noel Crombieβ€”percussionist, performer and the...
    Hardback
    $5199
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Artist's Way
    The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guidebook that has captivated millions, including luminaries such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferriss. With its profound ability to inspire and elevate, this book invites readers to embark on an enriching creative journey, fostering a deeper connection to one's artistic process and sense of purpose. The heart of Cameron's groundbreaking programme...
    Paperback
    $3700
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Mah Jong Player's Companion
    Since the arrival on the market of Patricia Thompson and Betty Maloney's two previous books, The Game of Mah Jong Illustrated and Improve Your Mah Jong, a wide range of hands from many parts of the world has been sent to them. In this player's companion, the authors have put together a cross-filled reference guide where over 120 hands, illustrated...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.