Aristophanes: Lysistrata

Robson succeeds throughout in combining infectious enthusiasm and dispassionate discussion with a lightness of touch and lucidity that should appeal to students, lay readers and scholars alike. A quiet relish comes across not only in his lively discussion of sexual language, and of the ins and outs of the play’s censorship history, but also in the warmth and humour of his translations of the Greek. * Times Literary Supplement *James Robson has written a richly informative and reliable guide to one of Aristophanes’ most lively and durable comedies and, in my view, accomplished his stated goal of keeping the material at a consistently high level that is both challenging and accessible to a wide range of readers. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *Overtly intended for ‘anyone and everyone interested in exploring what the Lysistrata has to offer’, Robson has succeeded in his aim. Using transliterated technical terms which are always carefully explained, the text is lucid, not patronising, and highly accessible for any A level student … If you have been searching for a single volume exploring Lysistrata in some depth that won’t upset the budget, this is your book …. Robson’s volume has the benefit of being clear, short, readable and comprehensive. * The Journal of Classics Teaching *

James Robson is Professor of Classical Studies at the Open University, UK. His publications include Humour, Obscenity and Aristophanes (2006), Aristophanes: An Introduction (Bloomsbury Academic, 2009; shortlisted for the Anglo-Hellenic League’s Runciman Award), and Sex and Sexuality in Classical Athens (2013).