This volume provides modern, uncensored translations of Aristophanes'
Acharnians, Knights, and Wasps. These plays, originally a series,
are the world's earliest political satires, and are made available here
for the first time in one volume, augmented by full introductions and
notes.
In these three works, Aristophanes launched satirical attacks on Cleon,
the world's first demagogue, and explored the vulnerability of democracy
to populist manipulation and disinformation. Henderson's fresh
translations and exploration of the themes within them enable readers to
explore the perils facing democracy in its first century which are still
with us today. The Introduction offers the reader background on
Aristophanes' life, Athenian democracy, classical drama, as well as on
political comedy, while introductions to each individual play provide
the reader with context. An appendix also collects selected fragments
from Aristophanes' lost political plays.
Three More Plays by Aristophanes offers an invaluable collection of
these works for students and faculty working on classical studies,
theatre and theatre history, and drama. The clear translations and
contextualizing introductions and notes also make these plays accessible
to students of government, law, and political science, and to the
general reader interested in any of these subjects.
