Public-domain ebook
by Aristophanes
Language: en11,020 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Classical Antiquity·Banned Books from Anne Haight's list·Humour
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #7700.
Lysistrata is an ancient Greek comedy by Aristophanes, translated into English and illustrated by Norman Lindsay. The play opens with a lively exchange between the titular heroine and her friend Calonice, who comment on the restless heat of summer, the bawdy chatter of men, and the urgent business that has driven the women together. From the first lines, the dialogue establishes a blend of domestic banter and political urgency, hinting at the larger conflict that will involve the women of Athens and their bold scheme to halt the Peloponnesian war. The foreword frames the work as a uniquely unified piece of art, arguing that its “intimate perfume of femininity” and “vitalizing sex” give it a depth that surpasses even Aristophanes’ other comedies.
The voice is unmistakably Aristophanic: sharp, witty, and unapologetically ribald, steeped in the conventions of 5th‑century BCE Athenian drama. Its lyrical mock‑heroics, choral interludes, and rapid‑fire repartee capture the spirit of classical Greek comedy while commenting on gender, war, and civic life. Readers who relish satire that intertwines political critique with exuberant humor, students of classical literature, lovers of ancient drama, or anyone drawn to bold, thought‑provoking comedy, will find Lysistrata a rewarding encounter.
LYSISTRATA Translated from the Greek of ARISTOPHANES Illustrations by Norman Lindsay FOREWORD Lysistrata is the greatest work by Aristophanes. This blank and rash statement is made that it may be rejected. But first let it be understood that I do not mean it is a better written work than the Birds or the Frogs , or that (to descend to the scale of values that will be naturally imputed to me) it has any more appeal to the collectors of "curious literature" than the Ecclesiazusae or the Thesmophoriazusae . On the mere grounds of taste I can see an at least equally good case made out for the Birds . That brightly plumaged fantasy has an aerial wit and colour all its own. But there are certain works in which a man finds himself at an angle of vision where there is an especially felicitous union of the aesthetic and emotional elements which constitute the basic qualities of his uniqueness. …
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