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An overview chapter describes the origins of ancient comedy in Dionysian festivals and the development of the form from Aristophanes' episodic plots to the artful plot construction of later comedy. Subsequent chapters describe and analyze a number of rowdy plays, discussing their political and social significance and their emotional power. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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CHOICE Review

This book offers a lively overview of Greek and Roman comedy. To provide unity of theme, Sutton concentrates on the conflict between fathers and sons, which limits his scope. He selects seven plays (two by Aristophanes, one each by Menander and Terence, three by Plautus), for which he provides somewhat labored plot summaries followed by analysis. Sutton brings to bear three main perspectives in his interpretations: (1) comedy as a festive or carnival experience that is cathartic but potentially subversive, (2) the Freudian or Oedipal aspects of the conflict of generations, and (3) the social dimension of rebellion against paternal power and conservative tradition (an incidental motif is the conflict between city and country). The style is informal and breezy. Theoretical issues are handled lightly if not superficially, and some dubious points slip through (beating one's mother is bad enough in Aristophanes without a sexual innuendo; Menander's misanthrope does not reform his ways). The book is designed to excite the interest of the general reader or undergraduate in the social aspects of ancient comedy, and it largely succeeds. D. Konstan; Brown University