A Companion to Tragedy is an essential resource for anyone interested in exploring the role of tragedy in Western history and culture. * Tells the story of the historical development of tragedy from classical Greece to modernity * Features 28 essays by renowned scholars from multiple disciplines, including classics, English, drama, anthropology and philosophy * Broad in its scope and ambition, it considers interpretations of tragedy through religion, philosophy and history * Offers a fresh assessment of Ancient Greek tragedy and demonstrates how the practice of reading tragedy has changed radically in the past two decades