Greek Drama (Greenhaven Press Companion to Literary Movements and Genres) [Paperback]

Don Nardo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000 | Series: Greenhaven Press Companion to Literary Movements and Genres

Greek drama is widely regarded as the basis from which all modern theater is formed. In both tragic and comedic forms, the universal themes expressed in Greek drama are still applicable today. This anthology includes excerpts written by foremost critics in this genre. (20011001)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This useful book of literary criticism serves as a companion to the Literary Movements and Genres series for young adults. Here, criticism and interpretation of Greek theater is offered by well-known authors, covering such topics as women's roles in Greek tragedy, Aristophanes as social critic and Euripides as satirist, among many others. Particularly helpful to students will be the prefaces to the articles, each one summarizing the author's main points. Well written and accessible, this will support curricula that include Greek drama. Helen Rosenberg --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An extensive study. The introduction places the genre in its historical and literary context, and is invaluable as a touchstone for the essays that follow. The selections are by a wide range of writers and scholars...The chapter headings are annotated so that their contents are easily recognized and accessible. In fact, each article can stand alone as a study of the individual topic. Together, however, the essays can be read for a complete and fascinting study of the genre. An excellent resource to learn the trends and modes of the genre from the broadest sense to the most particular."
-- School Library Journal (November 2001) (School Library Journal 20010701)

"In general, the essays cover an idea, a philosophy, or a literary technique shared by several authors of the period. Most information on works and authors comes in small pieces wthin essays, which often proves entirely sufficient for students needing support for a research topic."
-- Booklist (March 2000) (20010701)

"Greenhaven Press has produced a series of books on Literary Movements and Genres designed to enhance the reader's understanding of and appreciation for the various literary movements and their impact on society - and the impact that society and history have had upon the writers of different eras."
-- Eclectic Book Reviews (UNKNOWN 20010301)

"The introduction to this title immediately challenges preconceptions...A historical overview of the genre and a discussion of its forms precede 20 well-chosen essays by prominent literary critics. Introductory notes to the entries are an additional aid to understanding. This book would make a good supplemental classroom text or a source for individual research with teacher guidance."
-- School Library Journal (October 2001) (School Library Journal 20010301)

"This is the sort of resource every librarian will want to have on a personal shelf...as well as in adult or parenting collections."
-- School Library Journal (July 2001) (School Library Journal 20000501)

"This text provides an excellent foundation for further study of this important literary movement. Readers will become aware of the major writers of the period as well as some of their most significant works."
-- Kliatt (July 2001) (KLIATT 20000401)

"A clear, scholarly introduction to the main ideas, subjects, and literary works identified...A succinct statement of the critic's argument precedes each essay. A useful resource for upper-division undergradutes through faculty, this volume is particularly recommended for beginning undergraduates who will find it readily accessible."
-- Choice (March 2001) (Choice 20000315)

"This series would be quite handy for teachers since it brings together excerpts from number of sources that would otherwise be a chore to locate. Together would then be better able to guide the students to an appreciation of the topic."
-- Kliatt (March 2001) (KLIATT )

"The articles have been excerpted from a variety a sources, and edited for clarity. English students and teachers alike will appreciate these collections of literary criticism that examine a variety of authors, styles, and themes."
-- Kliatt (May 2000) (KLIATT )

"While the book contains some literary jargon, students will find it a helpful companion to other sources. A chronology lists authors and their works. Students doing reserch will appreciate the four-page topical bibliography and detailed index."
-- School Library Journal (April 2000) (School Library Journal )

"Particularly helpful to students will be the prefaces to the articles, each one summarizing the author's main points. Well-written and accessible, this will support curricula."
-- Booklist (March 2000) (Booklist ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Greenhaven Press; annotated edition edition (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0737702060
• ISBN-13: 978-0737702064
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,930,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Don Nardo is a historian and award-winning writer who specializes in the ancient world, especially the civilizations of Greece and Rome. He began as a actor and worked with the National Shakespeare Company before turning to writing screenplays and teleplays and, soon afterward, devoting much of his time to historical research and writing. In the past two decades, he has published nearly two hundred volumes on diverse historical topics. And having earned numerous favorable reviews, he is widely recognized as the country's leading writer of historical works for young adults. He is also versed in various other subjects and as a result is frequently asked by publishers to write books on a number of scientific and literary topics.

Mr. Nardo also composes and arranges orchestral music, having started composing in his early teens. Over the years he has turned out more than eighty musical works, including 2 symphonies, 4 string quartets, several concertos, a film score, incidental music for stage productions, and several commissions, the most recent a double concerto for violin and Portuguese guitar written for two noted musicians. He is also the resident composer and arranger for the Amadis Orchestra, based in Connecticut. For more information, see his official web site at www.nardopublishing.com and his more extensive biography at Wikipedia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, August 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Literary Movements and Genres - Greek Drama (hardcover edition) (Hardcover)

A good many volumes have been published about ancient Greek drama. This is certainly one of the better ones. Noted classical historian and literay scholar Don Nardo has compiled an impressive array of essays by other scholars, including Sarah Pomeroy, Michael Grant, Moses Hadas, D.W. Lucas, and Victor Hanson. Each covers a different aspect of the Greek drama, such as its basis in mythology, the use of the chorus, the nature of Grek tragedy, the potrayal of women, Greek comedy, the importance of Oedipus Rex in the later history of drama, and so on. A very fine bibliography rounds out this excellent resource.