Sophocles' Electra tells the story of the revenge Orestes and Electra take on their mother, Clytemnestra, for the murder of their father Agamemnon, after he returns from the Trojan War. In Sophocles' depiction of this myth, Electra admits that her actions are shameful even though they are just. Anne Carson a renowned poet, and Michael Shaw, a respected classicist, combine their talents to create this new addition to the Greek Tragedy in New Translations series. Each play in the series, meant for the non-specialist reader, is preceded by a critical introduction and is accompanied by notes designed to clarify obscure references and to explain the conventions of the Athenian stage.