Aristophanes: An Author for the Stage

Carlo Ferdinando Russo’s acclaimed work on Aristophanes examines his comedies as plays intended for the stage - not the page. The author considers the invention of printing as a cause of root changes in the nature of drama: The modern reader is inclined to see Aristophanes as an author of texts for reading, rather than of fluid libretti for performance. In Aristophanes, an Author for the Stage , Russo’s in-depth philological analysis of the plays is founded on an ever present perception of the realities of Greek theatre. For example, he shows how deviations in the text can often be explained with reference to the actual competitions they were written for. First published in Italy in 1962, Professor Russo’s book has long been the classic work on Aristophanes. Now finally available in English and much updated, it is essential reading for any student of Greek comedy.