Aristophanes: The Birds & The Frogs (The Heritage Press)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Slipcase: Very Good. 1959. The Heritage Press. Beautifully Illustrated throughout. Two Plays in One book.

The Birds

Introduction by: Dudley Fitts

Illustrated by: Marian Parry

The longest of Aristophanes' surviving plays and a good example of Greek comedy. The plot of the play revolves around Pisthetaerus, an Athenian who convinces the birds to create a great city in the sky, and thus regain their status as the original gods. Pisthetaerus eventually transforms into a bird-like god himself, and replaces Zeus as the king of the gods.

The Frogs

Introduction by: Gilbert Seldes

Illustrated by: John Austen

Translated by: William James Hickie

A comedy, in The Frogs (written during the Peloponnesian War) Dionysus descends to the Underworld to bring back a poet who can help Athens in its darkest hour, and stages a great debate to help him decide between the traditional wisdom of Aeschylus and the brilliant modernity of Euripides.