A review by archytas
The Birds and Other Plays by Aristophanes

3.0

I read this one straight after Halliwell's more scholarly translation of Clouds, Women of Themosphoria and Frogs. Whereas that focused on the verse and beauty of Artisophanes, Barratt and Somerstein have produced something designed to be performed: the rapid-fire comedy hits in a very modern way, helpful staging is included, and the translations are significantly briefer than Halliwell's. The loss is not insignificant - the plays are bawdy and light, with less gravitas and poetry, but on the other hand, they are very funny, which is somewhat the point.
The historical notes are excellent, and I appreciated the chronological glimpse into the transition from lavish to impoverished and how that connected to the demise of Old Comedy.