Aristophanes and Athens - An Introduction to the Plays

Aristophanes' comedies are famous for their comic characters and earthy humour. But they are also highly topical, with many contemporary political allusions easily missed today. This book provides students with a long needed accessible and essential introductory guide to the plays, focusing particularly on information about the Athens of the day.

About the author

MacDowell is a well-known expert on Aristophanes, and is the editor of a commentary on Aristophanes: Wasps for OUP (1971). He has also written on a variety of topics in ancient history, particularly law and politics.

Summary

Aristophanes' comedies are famous for their comic characters and earthy humour. But they are also highly topical, with many contemporary political allusions easily missed today. This book provides students with a long needed accessible and essential introductory guide to the plays, focusing particularly on information about the Athens of the day.

Additional text

Douglas M. MacDowell ... is eminently qualified to write this book. No background knowledge is assumed; the context of the plays is succinctly and accurately summarized ... MacDowell's refreshing contribution is to show how the serious comments are transmitted through comic plot and production ... There is no better introduction to this enigmatic author.

Product details

• Authors: Douglas M. MacDowell, Douglas M. (Professor of Greek Macdowell, MacDowell Douglas M.
• Publisher: Oxford Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 21.09.1995
• EAN: 9780198721581
• ISBN: 978-0-19-872158-1
• Dimensions: 147 mm x 218 mm x 27 mm
• Weight: 578 g
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Ancient (Classical) Greek, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Literary studies: plays and playwrights