In writing this book on the New Comedies of Greece and Rome the author's aim is 'to fill a gap in the existing literature by concentrating on what one might look for in watching and reading these plays and why such an exercise might be pleasurable'. The social comedy of Menander, Plautus and Terence provided a style of comic drama which was to prove the root of all subsequent western comedy. Dr Hunter gives a literary account of this drama, placing it in its ancient context and then ranging over a number of specific topics and themes: the dramatic craft of the poets, their exploration of how to give variety to stereotyped plots and characters, the presentation of women, the use of language and themes from tragedy, the place of moralising and philosophy. The book is much less concerned with differences between Greek and Roman comedy than with suggesting ways in which modern readers can enjoy both.
All Greek and Latin is translated and this volume should prove a valuable textbook not only for students of classical drama but also for those studying the drama of later. European literature.