Synopses & Reviews
Lamenting the unwholesome state of human affairs, a pair of adventurers turn their backs on civilization as they know it and unite with the birds to found an idyllic city in the clouds. Among the earliest existing portrayals of a utopian society, this sparkling fantasy by one of antiquity's most brilliant and popular playwrights offers modern audiences and readers a vision of ancient Greek theater at its very finest.
Widely acknowledged as Aristophanes' masterpiece, this rollicking farce follows the two Athenians into their self-imposed exile as they negotiate with their avian allies to establish a "Cloud-cuckoo-town" between heaven and earth. Satirical targets include Socrates, depicted here as a wily sophist, and the gods themselves, who ultimately capitulate to the utopians' crafty maneuverings.
The Birds resounds with comic vitality, combining witty dialog, interludes of exquisite lyricism, and clever stage effects for an extravaganza as appealing to contemporary audiences as it was to Athenians of more than 2,000 years ago. This inexpensive edition offers students, teachers, and theater lovers a handsome and durable means of savoring this immortal comedy.
Dover (1999) unabridged republication of the anonymous translation originally appearing in Aristophanes: The Eleven Comedies, published by Horace Liveright, New York, 1928. Introductory Note. Translator's footnotes.
Synopsis
Widely acknowledged as Aristophanes masterpiece, The Birds concerns a pair of fugitives from Athenian blight, who unite with the birds to found and idyllic city in the clouds. Aware that they'll require assistance from the gods in maintaining their utopia, the friends and their avian allies strategically build their "cloud-duckootown" between heaven and earth, forming an impermeable wall between the gods and their worshippers. The immortals, deprived of the nourishing smoke from earthly sacrifices, quickly accede to the new city's demands and provide a happy ending for all. A creative fantasy by one of the most brilliant and popular of the ancient Greek playwrights, The Birds sparkles with comic vitality, combining witty dialog, interludes of exquisite lyricism, and clever stage effects for an extravaganza as appealing to modern audiences as it was to Athenians of more than 2,000 years ago.
Synopsis
Disenchanted with the corruption of their native Athens, a pair of friends unite with the birds to found an idyllic city in the clouds. Widely acknowledged as Aristophanes' masterpiece, this sparkling fantasy resounds with comic vitality, combining witty dialog, interludes of exquisite lyricism, and clever stage effects for an irresistible extravaganza.
Synopsis
A pair of Athenians unite with the birds to found a utopia in this comic masterpiece of antiquity. Aristophanes' finest work, this imaginative farce abounds in wit and vitality.