
Four Comedies
The Braggart Soldier; The Brothers Menaechmus; The Haunted House; The Pot of Gold
Plautus(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 17. April 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-19-954056-3 (ISBN)
Description
Plautus was the single greatest influence on Western comedy. Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors and Moliere's The Miser are two subsequent classics directly based on Plautine originals.
Plautus himself borrowed from the Greeks, but his jokes, rapid dialogue, bawdy humour, and irreverent characterizations are the original work of an undisputed genius. The comedies printed here show him at his best, and professor Segal's translations keep their fast, rollicking pace intact, making these the most readable and actable versions available. His introduction considers Plautus' place in ancient comedy, examines his continuing influence, and celebrates his power to entertain.
ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Plautus himself borrowed from the Greeks, but his jokes, rapid dialogue, bawdy humour, and irreverent characterizations are the original work of an undisputed genius. The comedies printed here show him at his best, and professor Segal's translations keep their fast, rollicking pace intact, making these the most readable and actable versions available. His introduction considers Plautus' place in ancient comedy, examines his continuing influence, and celebrates his power to entertain.
ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Reviews / Votes
These translations are unrivalled in English. The dialogue is brisk, puns and alliterative strings trip from [Segal's] pen with an abandon that rivals the master himself, and the lyrics really ache to be sung. It is great theatre! * Professor Walter Moskalew, Classics Department, Ball State University *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
231 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-954056-3 (9780199540563)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Plautus
Four Comedies
The Braggart Soldier; The Brothers Menaechmus; The Haunted House; The Pot of Gold
E-Book
04/2008
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€5.49
Available for download
Persons
Erich Segal is Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. He was Professor of Classics at Yale and is author of Roman Laughter, a study of Plautus. He also wrote Love Story.
Content
The Braggart Soldier ; The Brothers Menaechmus ; The Haunted House ; The Pot of Gold