Broken Laughter

A collection of over 200 of the most interesting and important fragments of Greek comedy, accompanied by a commentary, an extensive introduction discussing the history of comic genre, a series of appendixes on the individual poets, the inscriptional evidence, etc., and a complete translation of the fragments. - ;A collection of over 200 of the most interesting and important fragments of Greek comedy, accompanied by a commentary; an extensive introduction discussing the history of comic genre; a series of appendixes on the individual poets, the inscriptional evidence, and the like; and a complete translation of the fragments. Individual sections illustrate the earliest Greek comedy from Syracuse; the characteristic features of Athenian `Old', `Middle', and `New Comedy'; the comic. presentation of politicians, philosophers, and women; the comic reception of other poetry; and many aspects of daily life, including dining and symposia. - ;Olson's work is a welcome and valuable arrival. - Andrew Hartwig Scholia;There is a great deal of learning on display in Broken Laughter and much information communicated with great economy. - Matthew Leigh, Times Literary Supplement;Broken Laughter will help break new ground in rendering more accessible the world of Greek comedy beyond Aristophanes and Menander. - Tom Hawkins, Bryn Mawr Classical Review;This beautifully produced book is a unique and indispensible resource for all students of classical Greek literature...Essential. - Choice