Menander - Plays and Fragments
by Menander

Name: Menander - Plays and Fragments
Brand: Menander
SKU: 9780140445015
Rating: 3.57 (725 reviews)

Menander - Plays and Fragments Book Cover — Menander - Plays and Fragments Cover

Highlights

Greek & Roman

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate Menander's influence on modern comedy and the depth of his characters, often comparing him favorably to other ancient playwrights. Despite some criticisms related to the fragmented nature of his work, many find the surviving plays engaging and insightful. The translation has also been noted for its clarity, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Influence on modern comedyEngaging character depthClear translationInteresting surviving fragmentsFragmented nature of playsSome content feels incomplete

Synopsis

Menander (c. 341-291 BC) was the foremost innovator of Greek New Comedy, a dramatic style that moved away from the fantastical to focus upon the problems of ordinary Athenians.

This collection contains the full text of 'Old Cantankerous' (Dyskolos), the only surviving complete example of New Comedy, as well as fragments from works including 'The Girl from Samos' and 'The Rape of the Locks', all of which are concerned with domestic catastrophes, the hazards of love and the trials of family life.

Written in a poetic style regarded by the ancients as second only to Homer, these polished works - profoundly influential upon both Roman playwrights such as Plautus and Terence, and the wider Western tradition - may be regarded as the first true comedies of manners.

ThemesGreek drama (Comedy)--Translations into English Translations into EnglishMenander