Product Description

One of the supreme comic writers of the Roman world, Plautus (c.254–184 BC), skilfully adapted classic Greek comic models to the manners and customs of his day. This collection features a varied selection of his finest plays, from the light-hearted comedy Pseudolus, in which the lovesick Calidorus and his slave try to liberate his lover from her pimp, to the more subversive The Prisoners, which raises serious questions about the role of slavery. Also included are The Brothers Menaechmus, which formed the prototype for Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, and The Pot of Gold, whose old miser Euclio is a glorious study in avarice. Throughout, Plautus breathes new, brilliant life into classic comic types – including deceitful twins, scheming slaves, bitter old men and swaggering soldiers – creating an entertaining critique of Roman life and values.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #99215 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-01
• Original language: Latin
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

About the Author
Titus Maccius Plautus was born in Umbria about 254BC. Little is known of his life, but it is believed he became an actor and translated Greek comedies for the Roman stage. He was rewarded by being granted Roman citizenship. According to Cicero he died in 184BC. EF Watling was educated at University College, Oxford. His translations for the Penguin Classics include seven plays of Sophocles, nine plays of Plautus and a selection of Seneca's tragedies. He died in 1990.

Customer Reviews

A complete surprise! Amusing and very helpful.
I bought this book to prepare me for a Latin course that involves translating one of Plautus' plays. I hadn't encountered this type of play before and was expecting heavy, dreary, unamusing hard work. You can imagine my delight when I read them to find that plays written over two thousand years ago are just as funny today. The plots are cleverly written and it is easy to see how they have inspired other playwrights. The characters are timeless.

There are introductions to each of the plays by the translator, E.F. Watling, which give you an overview of the play and some of the changes the translator has made and why. I found these interesting and as somebody new to Roman plays, very helpful.

I would recommend this book to anyone doing a Latin course or with an interest in the classics.