Greek drama and dramatists - Alan H. Sommerstein

The history of European drama began at the festivals of Dionysus in ancient Athens, where tragedy, satyr-drama and comedy were performed. Understanding this background
is vital for students of classical, literary and theatrical
subjects, and Alan H. Sommerstein's accessible study is the
ideal introduction. The book begins by looking at the social and theatrical contexts and different characteristics of the three genres of ancient Greek drama. It then examines the
five main dramatists whose works survive - Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes and Menander - discussing their styles, techniques and ideas, and giving short synopses of
all their extant plays. Additional helpful features include
succinct coverage of almost sixty other authors, a chronology of significant people and events, and an anthology of translated texts, all of which have been previously inaccessible to students. An up-to-date study bibliography of further reading concludes the volume. Clear, concise and comprehensive, and written by an acknowledged expert in the field, Greek
Drama and Dramatists will be a valuable orientation text at
both sixth form and undergraduate level.