Alfred John Church (1829-1912) was a renowned classical scholar and author, particularly esteemed for his contributions to making ancient Greek and Roman literature accessible to the English-speaking world. Church was born on January 29, 1829, in London, England, and demonstrated a keen interest in classical languages and literature from an early age. He pursued his passion at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he later became a tutor and took holy orders. Church's literary career was marked by his dedication to translating and retelling ancient classics, rendering them into a prose that retained the elegance and vitality of the original works while making them understandable and engaging to contemporary readers.

His work, 'Stories from the Greek Tragedians' (1879), is a prime example of his adept skill as an adapter of ancient texts. The book delivers vivid retellings of Greek tragedies, including those by playwrights such as Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus, thus providing young learners and general readers with an approachable introduction to these monumental works of literature. Church's narrative style in this and other works combines scholarly rigor with a narrative charm, allowing his translations to stand the test of time as both educational resources and enjoyable readings. Beyond his contributions to classical literature, Church also produced historical writings and school textbooks, further cementing his legacy as a significant figure in the promotion of classical education.