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The Birds: A Play by [Aristophanes]

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The Birds: A Play Kindle Edition

by Aristophanes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

46 ratings

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Birds rule the sky—and man—in this entertaining work by the Ancient Greek playwright known for Lysistrata and The Clouds.

This award-winning comedy—first performed in Greece in 414 BC—remains a delightful read even after two millennia. As the birds of Athens express their frustration about sharing a realm with humans, they hatch a plan to build their own empire in the sky: Cloud-cuckoo-land. Soon they are exercising their power as they form a barrier between mortals and the Olympians—and declare themselves the new gods.

Print length

96 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Open Road Media
Publication date

June 30, 2020
File size

4236 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is a rich store of information and sure to be long-lasting. Everyone who uses it - and that will be everyone who pays close attention to Birds from now on - will have ample cause for gratitude....Her work is unquestionably a contribution of the highest significance, timely and thoroughly professional."Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"The commentary elucidates with an expert's knowledge syntax, meter, and artifacts. The book is as well a permanent contribution to our knowledge of Attic birds....The volume is the best and will remain authoritative for generations. We can only be grateful."--Religious Studies Review

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Back Cover

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. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08BRCJ6H3
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (June 30, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 30, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4236 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 96 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,340,512 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #318 in Greek & Roman Drama
- #324 in Classical & Early Drama & Plays
- #331 in Continental European Drama & Plays

Customer Reviews:
46 ratings

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Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5

46 global ratings

5 star		43%
4 star		13%
3 star		24%
2 star		8%
1 star		11%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Very good ebook transfer

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 6, 2017

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I'm not qualified to comment on the translation into English, and I'm not going to waste my, or anyone else's, time writing a substantive review of one of of the great classics of surviving Attic Greek literature, so this is really just a review of the ebook transfer, which is is generally good, with no obvious typos or major formatting gaffes. The typography is very plain, and more importantly, it wouldn't have killed anyone (not even a few trees) to have inserted a line space between paragraphs, which would've made it "flow" better, but it's still easy enough to read as is. The introduction is quite short, but pithy, and of course more has been written about this play, and Aristophanes' work in general, than one can shake a stick at, and there's plenty of discussion of the play even on the Web, for those who're interested in its background and historical context.

Kindle Customer

Well that was different

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 7, 2022

Verified Purchase

This was the first Greek play I have read and now I think I will try some others. Cloud Cuckoo Land had come up several times in reading history so I had to get to the source. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Glad to read anything

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 17, 2017

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I've not yet read this. Glad to read anything, though, from Aristophanes and to have it in my Kindle collection.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 22, 2015

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I liked how it weaves characters in and out but kept with the theme. A bit like watching birds in flight on a windy day.

Alot of strange words and names.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 9, 2013

Verified Purchase

Easy play format to read, alot of obscure names and references, although the book does offer explanations of the references. Helps some. Would like to see it acted on stage.

5 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

Had absolutely nothing to do with Alfred Hitchcock or his movie The Birds. Nothing against it just Not my bag baby.

One person found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 13, 2018

Verified Purchase

Not what I expected.

One person found this helpful

Essential Aristophanes

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 13, 2010

There are many translations of The Birds, but noted Greek scholar William Arrowsmith's is excellent. Eminently readable, it manages to convincingly convey the sense - and humor - as well as much of the poetry. Some may prefer more contemporary translations, but this still holds up very well, and anyone wanting a quality translation who comes across this should get it.

As for the play itself, it is considered one of Aristophanes' best - a worthy work that is still funny, entertaining, and thought-provoking after nearly 2,500 years and also now of great historical value. Though not Aristophanes funniest or most bitingly satirical work, it may have the best story and is likely the most imaginative. The plot is typically absurd but very creatively so, the amazingly thought out setting is truly remarkable, and the characters are very memorable. The play is also a powerful reminder of the easily overlooked fact that Aristophanes was an excellent poet; it has some of his best - and funniest - songs. He was also of course a brilliant satirist, and this is a preeminent example. His methods are as always diverse, including slapstick, but there are serious themes beneath the silly surface. The Birds is indeed a subtle religious critique and a nuanced look at all forms of tyranny as well as resistance. It also deals with issues of escapism - perhaps a clever and even half-mocking self-reference - and the concept of utopia. Simply put, it is essential for anyone interested in Greek comedy.

2 people found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

WA91

Funny Classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 23, 2013

Verified Purchase

Bought this play as part of research for a project at university, found it challenging but enjoyable to read. The humor is in no way lost on a modern audience.

It provoked lots of project ideas, so it is definitely worth a read for creatives.

Arrived on time so could read before getting back to university.

Lata

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 30, 2017

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Definitely worth it for the Kindle version, very well adapted for electronic reading

Ruth

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 6, 2018

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Love this book great

@willthereallybeamorning

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 23, 2015

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Awesome

One person found this helpful

Mr. N. A. Bell

Must Buy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 29, 2014

Verified Purchase

A great read.

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