Much of what we know of Greco-Roman comedy comes from the surviving works of just four playwrights—the Greeks Aristophanes and Menander and the Romans Plautus and Terence. To introduce these authors and their work to students and general readers, this book offers a new, accessible translation of a representative play by each playwright, accompanied by a general introduction to the author's life and times, a scholarly article on a prominent theme in the play, and a bibliography of selected readings about the play and playwright.

This range of material, rare in a single volume, provides several reading and teaching options, from the study of a single author to an overview of the entire Classical comedic tradition. The plays have been translated for readability and fidelity to the original text by established Classics scholars. Douglas Olson provides the translation and commentary for Aristophanes' Acharnians, Shawn O'Bryhim for Menander's Dyskolos, George Fredric Franco for Plautus' Casina, and Timothy J. Moore for Terence's Phormio.

• Preface
• Aristophanes and Athenian Old Comedy by S. Douglas Olson
  • Introduction
  • The Politics of Comedy and the Problem of the Reception of Aristophanes' Acharnians
  • Select Bibliography
  • A Note on the Translation
  • Acharnians
• Menander and Greek New Comedy by Shawn O'Bryhim
  • Introduction
  • Dance, Old Man, Dance!: The Torture of Knemon in Menander's Dyskolos
  • Select Bibliography
  • Dyskolos; or, The Grouch
• Plautus and Roman New Comedy by George Fredric Franko
  • Introduction
  • Cleostrata in Charge: Tradition and Variation in Casina
  • Select Bibliography
  • Casina
• Terence and Roman New Comedy by Timothy J. Moore
  • Introduction
  • Who Is the Parasite?: Giving and Taking in Phormio
  • Select Bibliography
  • Phormio