The Way to Colonos

Synopsis

First published in 1961, The Way to Colonos boldly reimagines three of Sophocles' greatest tragedies for the modern world. Antigone wheels her aging father, Oedipus, onto a ferry to Colonos, wrestling with his guilt and self-absorption. A suburban Electra dreams of confronting her mother but remains trapped between fantasy and action. Philoctetes becomes a wounded soldier navigating the fractured loyalties of postwar Greece. Across these interconnected retellings, Kay Cicellis transforms ancient myths into intimate studies of family, war, and the emotional burdens carried by women.

Elegant, psychologically acute, and remarkably ahead of its time, The Way to Colonos blends the timeless power of Greek tragedy with the moral complexities of the twentieth century. Introduced by Rachel Cusk, this rediscovered classic reveals a writer of extraordinary intelligence and compassion whose work speaks as urgently today as when it first appeared.

About the Author

Kay Cicellis (1926–2001) was born to Greek parents in Marseille before spending her childhood in Athens and on the island of Cephalonia. During the Nazi occupation of Greece, her early stories were smuggled out of the country and published by the British military press while she was still a teenager. She later published story collections and novels before becoming one of the foremost translators of modern Greek literature into English. An outspoken opponent of Greece's military dictatorship, Cicellis combined literary achievement with lifelong political engagement. This edition features a foreword by acclaimed novelist Rachel Cusk.

Publisher

McNally Editions

Publication Date

December 30, 2025

Format

Paperback

Pages

192

Subjects

Literary Fiction · Greek Literature · Modern Classics · Myth Retellings · Historical Fiction

ISBN

9781946022776