Guide to Greek Theatre and Drama (Methuen Drama) (Plays and Playwrights) Book

Athens in the fifth century BC produced a remarkable flowering of playwrights: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides in tragedy, along with Aristophanes and, in the fourth century, Menander, in comedy. They laid the foundations for all Western drama and continue to speak as powerfully after 2,500 years.

Kenneth McLeish's authoritative and enthusiastic Guide to Greek Theatre and Drama is full of his enjoyment and understanding of the plays. It provides an extensive introduction to Athenian theatre, the form of the plays and, as far as can be established, how the plays were performed. Then follows a background section on each playwright, a synopsis and commentary for each of the surviving plays, and an outline of Aristotle's theories on drama. The result is an indispensable companion for anyone interested in Greek theatre. The volume was completed by Professor Trevor R. Griffiths.