Aristophanes Livres

A “zany [and] inventive” (Emily Wilson) translation that for the first time captures both the antic outrageousness and lyrical brilliance of antiquity’s greatest comedies.

Six wide ranging classic plays with introduction by the editorThe comedies of the Athenian theatre not only lie at the root of Western drama, they also offer a unique insight into everyday life in ancient Greece. This selection of six wide ranging plays includes the comic fantasies of Aristophanes, which combine the ridiculous with serious satirical comment (Birds, Frogs, Women in Power); Menander's The Woman from Samos, a recognisable forebear of today's situation comedy; Euripides ribald satyr play, Cyclops, the only surviving example of the genre, and his Alkestis, a complex romance which gave a new face to comedy.The volume is edited and introduced by J. Michael Walton, Professor of Drama at the University of Hull and founder/director of the Performance Translation Centre there.

Xanthias I am teaching myself how to rest; I have been awake and on watch the whole night.Sosias So you want to earn trouble for your ribs, eh? Don't you know what sort of animal we are guarding here?Xanthias Aye indeed! but I want to put my cares to sleep for a while.[He falls asleep again.]

This new edition of Aristophanes is intended to replace the previous Oxford Classical Text published in 1900-1. Since that date it has been possible to construct a far better picture of the transmission of the text from antiquity to the age of printing and to obtain reliable reports of other significant manuscripts. While some of the new information has been taken into account for recent commentaries on individual plays, there is no easily available complete edition. Though the text of the plays is better preserved than that of Greek tragedy, the editor has thought it desirable to record or adopt a fair number of conjectures, some of them little known or unjustly disregarded; in a few passages he has ventured to offer suggestions of his own.

Included in this collection are 'The Birds', the most graceful of Aristophanes' plays; 'The Knights', a satire on Cleon, an Athenian demagogue; 'Peace', which was inspired by the hope of peace with Sparta in 421 BC; 'The Assembly Women', about sexual equality; and 'Wealth', a reflection on economic catastrophe

Offers insight into one of the turbulent periods in Ancient Greek history. This book is written during the Peloponnesian War, Dionysus descends to Underworld to bring back a poet who can help Athens in its darkest hour, and stages a debate to help him decide between the traditional wisdom of Aeschylus and the modernity of Euripides.

In this chilling tale, a small coastal town is suddenly besieged by aggressive birds, leading to widespread panic and chaos among the residents. The story explores themes of nature's unpredictability and humanity's vulnerability, as characters grapple with their fears and the breakdown of societal norms. Tensions rise as the avian attacks escalate, forcing individuals to confront their instincts for survival. The narrative delves into psychological horror, highlighting the fragility of civilization in the face of an inexplicable threat.

Excerpt from Lysistrata The Romancers. A comedy in 8 acts. By Edmond Rostand. 8 men, 1 woman (extra women as supers). New translation of this celebrated and charming little romantic play by the famous author oi' Cyr-ano de Bergerac and Chantecler. Price 35 cents. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Set against the backdrop of the Peloponnesian War, this play serves as a sharp satire of Athenian social and political life, focusing on the controversial figure Cleon, a pro-war populist. With a smaller cast than typical for Aristophanes, the narrative revolves around the playwright's personal vendetta against Cleon, who had previously prosecuted him. This work, notable for its biting humor and political commentary, won first prize at the Lenaia festival in 424 BC, showcasing Aristophanes' mastery of Old Comedy.