Description
Book Synopsis: Five comedies from Ancient Greece that freely blend satire and slapstick.
Offering a window into the world of ordinary Athenians, Aristophanes' The Birds and Other Plays is a timeless set of comedies, combining witty satire and raucous slapstick to wonderful effect. The plays in this volume all contain Aristophanes' trademark bawdy comedy and dazzling verbal agility.
In The Birds, two cunning Athenians persuade the birds to build the utopian city of 'Much Cuckoo in the Clouds' in the sky, blockading the Olympian gods and installing themselves as new deities. The Knights is a venomous satire on Cleon, a prominent Athenian demagogue, who vies with a humble sausage-seller for the approval of the people; while The Assembly-Women deals with the battle of the sexes as the women of Athens infiltrate the all-male Assembly in disguise. The lengthy conflict with Sparta is the subject of Peace, inspired by the hope of a settlement in 421 BC, and Wealth reflects on the economic catastrophe that hit Athens after the war.
These lively translations by David Barrett and Alan H. Sommerstein capture the full humour of the plays. The introduction examines Aristophanes' life and times, and the comedy and poetry of his works, and this edition also includes an introductory note for each play.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Details
Step into the world of Ancient Greece with The Birds and Other Plays (Penguin Classics). This timeless collection of five comedies by Aristophanes is a delightful blend of satire and slapstick that will have you laughing out loud. Whether you're a fan of classics or just looking for a great read, these plays are sure to entertain and captivate.
What sets The Birds and Other Plays apart is the way it offers a window into the world of ordinary Athenians. Through witty satire and raucous slapstick, Aristophanes captures the essence of everyday life in Ancient Greece. You'll be transported to a time when gods and mortals brushed shoulders, and the lines between the divine and the mundane were delightfully blurred.
Prepare to be amused as two cunning Athenians convince the birds to build their own utopian city in the sky, effectively blocking the Olympian gods and taking their place as new deities. In another play, The Knights, Aristophanes takes on a prominent Athenian figure in a venomous satire that will leave you in stitches. And that's just the beginning.
With its lively translations by David Barrett and Alan H. Sommerstein, The Birds and Other Plays captures the full humor and brilliance of Aristophanes' works. You'll be blown away by his dazzling verbal agility and bawdy comedy. The introduction provides valuable insights into Aristophanes' life and times, giving you a deeper understanding of the comedy and poetry in his plays.
As part of the esteemed Penguin Classics collection, this edition of The Birds and Other Plays is a true treasure. Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature for over seventy years, and their commitment to excellence shines through in every book they produce. You can trust that this edition includes authoritative texts, enhanced with introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Don't miss the chance to immerse yourself in the world of Ancient Greece. Order your copy of The Birds and Other Plays (Penguin Classics) today and indulge in the timeless humor and wit of Aristophanes. Shop now.
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