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Plautus - Complete Roman Drama in Translation #4
Plautus: The Comedies, Volume IV
"The works of Plautus," writes Palmer Bovie, "mark the real beginning of Roman literature." Now Bovie and David Slavitt have brought together a distinguished group of translators for the final two volumes of a four-volume set containing all twenty-one surviving comedies of one of Western literature's greatest dramatists.
Born in Sarsina, Umbria, in 254 B.C., Plautus is said to have worked in Rome as a stage carpenter and later as a miller's helper. Whether authentic or not, these few details about the playwright's life are consistent with the image of him one might infer from his plays. Plautus was not "literary" but rather an energetic and resourceful man of the world who spoke the language of the people. His dramatic works were his way of describing and portraying that world in a language the people understood.
Since Plautus's career unfolded against the background of the Second Punic War, it is not surprising that his prologues often end with a wish for the audience's "good luck against your enemies" or that the plays have their share of arrogant generals, boastful military captains, and mercenary adventurers. But other unforgettable characters are here as well—among them Euclio, in the Aulularia, the model for Molière's miser. In these lively new translations, which effectively communicate the vitality and verve of the originals, the plays of Plautus are accessible to a new generation.
Plays and translators:
Volume 4: Persa, Palmer Bovie. Menaechmi, Palmer Bovie. Cistellaria, R. H. W. Dillard. Pseudolus, Richard Beacham. Stichus, Carol Poster. Vidularia, John Wright.
Born in Sarsina, Umbria, in 254 B.C., Plautus is said to have worked in Rome as a stage carpenter and later as a miller's helper. Whether authentic or not, these few details about the playwright's life are consistent with the image of him one might infer from his plays. Plautus was not "literary" but rather an energetic and resourceful man of the world who spoke the language of the people. His dramatic works were his way of describing and portraying that world in a language the people understood.
Since Plautus's career unfolded against the background of the Second Punic War, it is not surprising that his prologues often end with a wish for the audience's "good luck against your enemies" or that the plays have their share of arrogant generals, boastful military captains, and mercenary adventurers. But other unforgettable characters are here as well—among them Euclio, in the Aulularia, the model for Molière's miser. In these lively new translations, which effectively communicate the vitality and verve of the originals, the plays of Plautus are accessible to a new generation.
Plays and translators:
Volume 4: Persa, Palmer Bovie. Menaechmi, Palmer Bovie. Cistellaria, R. H. W. Dillard. Pseudolus, Richard Beacham. Stichus, Carol Poster. Vidularia, John Wright.
392 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
52 people want to read
About the author
David R. Slavitt
157 books10 followersDavid Rytman Slavitt was an American writer, poet, and translator, the author of more than 100 books.
Slavitt has written a number of novels and numerous translations from Greek, Latin, and other languages. Slavitt wrote a number of popular novels under the pseudonym Henry Sutton, starting in the late 1960s. The Exhibitionist (1967) was a bestseller and sold over four million copies. He has also published popular novels under the names of David Benjamin, Lynn Meyer, and Henry Lazarus. His first work, a book of poems titled Suits for the Dead, was published in 1961. He worked as a writer and film critic for Newsweek from 1958 to 1965.
According to Henry S. Taylor, winner of the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, "David Slavitt is among the most accomplished living practitioners" of writing, "in both prose and verse; his poems give us a pleasurable, beautiful way of meditating on a bad time. We can't ask much more of literature, and usually we get far less." Novelist and poet James Dickey wrote, "Slavitt has such an easy, tolerant, believable relationship with the ancient world and its authors that making the change-over from that world to ours is less a leap than an enjoyable stroll. The reader feels a continual sense of gratitude."
Slavitt has written a number of novels and numerous translations from Greek, Latin, and other languages. Slavitt wrote a number of popular novels under the pseudonym Henry Sutton, starting in the late 1960s. The Exhibitionist (1967) was a bestseller and sold over four million copies. He has also published popular novels under the names of David Benjamin, Lynn Meyer, and Henry Lazarus. His first work, a book of poems titled Suits for the Dead, was published in 1961. He worked as a writer and film critic for Newsweek from 1958 to 1965.
According to Henry S. Taylor, winner of the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, "David Slavitt is among the most accomplished living practitioners" of writing, "in both prose and verse; his poems give us a pleasurable, beautiful way of meditating on a bad time. We can't ask much more of literature, and usually we get far less." Novelist and poet James Dickey wrote, "Slavitt has such an easy, tolerant, believable relationship with the ancient world and its authors that making the change-over from that world to ours is less a leap than an enjoyable stroll. The reader feels a continual sense of gratitude."
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 15, 2007
I am a big fan of Plautus, having fallen head over heels for Roman Comedy in undergraduate school. Do not buy all the books in this series, but do read Mostellaria (The Haunted House) and Captivi (The Prisoners of War). Mostellaria is just fun and Captivi presages in many ways the Christian concept of sacrifice. You have to be willing, as you must with Shakespeare, too, to invest some effort in visuallizing the stage action. Fortunately the introduction to the books in this series are really helpful.
January 31, 2023
The translations of these plays are not what I would have liked.....
April 22, 2016
You can find my overall thoughts about Plautus in my review of volume 1 here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pseudolus – **** This is a classic Plautus tale featuring one of his most conniving, outrageous slaves, Pseudolus. Pseudolus manages to purchase his master’s girlfriend and have the pimp pay for it. There are some drawn out sections/gags, and not much suspense, but the denouement is cleverly achieved and it is very entertaining.
The Persian – ** This is another story of slave trying to free a woman, but this time it is his own girlfriend, not his master’s. In fact, the master is gone and beside the pimp there are few free men in the play. This plot is not so cleverly done as Pseudolos. In fact, it’s rather obvious, depending on the pimp’s complete foolishness. Also, this play is very padded with extraneous gags and scenes that don’t really add much. The last act is particularly odd -- and rather sad. This could have been half the length. Also, what does a slave husband do with a free wife? The whole slavery ethos/economics in Plautus' world is rather baffling.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pseudolus – **** This is a classic Plautus tale featuring one of his most conniving, outrageous slaves, Pseudolus. Pseudolus manages to purchase his master’s girlfriend and have the pimp pay for it. There are some drawn out sections/gags, and not much suspense, but the denouement is cleverly achieved and it is very entertaining.
The Persian – ** This is another story of slave trying to free a woman, but this time it is his own girlfriend, not his master’s. In fact, the master is gone and beside the pimp there are few free men in the play. This plot is not so cleverly done as Pseudolos. In fact, it’s rather obvious, depending on the pimp’s complete foolishness. Also, this play is very padded with extraneous gags and scenes that don’t really add much. The last act is particularly odd -- and rather sad. This could have been half the length. Also, what does a slave husband do with a free wife? The whole slavery ethos/economics in Plautus' world is rather baffling.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews