{"product_id":"oedipus-a-play-in-five-acts-by-voltaire-paperback","title":"Oedipus: A Play in Five Acts, by Voltaire (Paperback)","description":"\u003cp\u003eVoltaire (1694-1778) was a prolific French philosopher, historian, novelist, poet, essayist--and popular playwright and opera librettist. Oedipus, produced in 1718, was his first drama, a recasting of Sophocles's play of the same name. Voltaire highlights the tension by introducing the character Philoctetes, a suitor of Queen Jocasta before she married Laius or Oedipus, and later a companion to Hercules. Philoctetes returns to Thebes, which is being punished by the gods because King Laius's murderer has not yet been punished--and becomes the chief suspect in the crime. Young King Oedipus is forced to investigate, but in the process reveals himself to be the killer--and uncovers the fact, previously unknown to him, that Jocasta is not only his wife, but his mother! The ensuing scandal destroys his family, his world, and himself. A brilliant début by one of the world's great writers!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wildside Press LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43184591995089,"sku":"9781434444424","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/5981\/5377\/files\/9781434444424_FC.jpg?v=1784077907","url":"https:\/\/startlingstories.us\/products\/oedipus-a-play-in-five-acts-by-voltaire-paperback","provider":"Startling Stories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}