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Classical Comedy
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Summary
Together, these plays trace the evolution of classical comedy, highlighting its diversity and profound influence on modern theatre.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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This collection is ideal for readers interested in classical literature, drama students, and anyone fascinated by the origins of comedic theatre and its enduring cultural legacy.
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See moreBrings together the works of Classical comedy, with two early Greek plays: Aristophanes' "Birds", and Menander's "The Girl from Samos"; and two Roman comic plays: Plautus' "The Brothers Menaechmus" and Terence's double love-plot, "The Eunuch". Together, these four plays demonstrate the development of Classical comedy.
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Description
A new anthology, bringing together four masterpieces of classical comedy in one volume.
From the fifth to the second century BC, innovative comedy drama flourished in Greece and Rome. This collection brings together the greatest works of Classical comedy, with two early Greek plays—Aristophanes' bold, imaginative Birds, and Menander's The Girl from Samos, which explores popular contemporary themes of mistaken identity and sexual misbehaviour; and two later Roman comic plays—Plautus' The Brothers Menaechmus—the original comedy of errors—and Terence's bawdy yet sophisticated double love-plot, The Eunuch.
Together, these four plays demonstrate the development of Classical comedy, celebrating its richness, variety, and extraordinary legacy to modern drama.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780140449822
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 28 September 2006
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Penguin Classics
Contributors:
- Edited by Erich Segal
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 20.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 258g
Pages: 352
About the Author
Little is known about Aristophanes' life (c. 445BC-c.386BC), but there is a portrait of him in Plato's Symposium. His first comedy was produced when he was 20 and he wrote 40 plays in the course of his life. Erich Segal has taught Classics at Harvard, Yale and Princeton and is currently an Honorary Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford. He has published widely on Greek and Roman Comedy, his latest book, The Death of Comedy, was published in 2001. He is also the author of nine best-selling novels.
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