Phaedra, a disturbing drama of unnatural love, violence, and perverted loyalty, is one of eight surviving tragedies written by the millionaire philosopher and litterateur Lucius Annaeus Seneca (ca 1 B.C. - A.D. 65), chief minister to the Emperor Nero. A.J. Boyle's penetrating introduction and extensive notes show why Seneca so deeply influenced Renaissance drama: psychological insight, vivid and powerful verse, highly effective staging (although the question of performance is controversial), and an intellectually demanding conceptual framework.

The translation, printed facing the Latin text, aims at verbal and stylistic fidelity. The book is suitable for class use at senior school and undergraduate level, for students of Latin and of classical civilisation/literature in translation. Students of English and of drama will also find it of value.".