This collection contains all eleven of Aristophanes' surviving comedies. Nowhere else are you likely to discover what the Athenian Man in the Street is thinking during the Peloponnesian War. At one point, in Plutus, we have a list of the things that the average Athenian craved the most. They included, in order: loaves, literature, sweets, honor, cheesecakes, manliness, dried figs, ambition, barley meal, command, and pea soup.

The two main themes that run across the comedies are a strong desire for peace (The Acharnians and Peace) and women taking over because the men have made such a hash of things (Lysistrata and Ecclesiazusae). Socrates is taken down a peg in The Clouds; and we learn that making all good men wealthy can have untoward side-effects in Plutus. We hear men, women, gods, servants, housebreakers, scroungers, and even birds speak their minds.

I wish there were more current translations in this collection, which was first published in 1962, but, unfortunately, that is not likely in today's book-publishing environment. Still, the collection is edited by Moses Hadas, one of the great classicists of yesteryear. And old translations can be just as readable as newer ones, even if the language is more archaic.

If you have any interest in ancient Greece, this is a collection you must own and dip into from time to time, if for no other reason than to remind you that the men and women of Periclean Athens were human beings, just like you and me.

I read Acharnians, Clouds, Birds, and Lysistrata. Hilarious! Dirty and witty.

This is definitely a case of poor translation making ancient stories completely unreadable. I could hardly follow what the heck was going on. This was terrible.

i really enjoyed all these, they made me chuckle and i will probably casually reread my more favorite plays over and over again

(Roche translation)

4 stars: really liked it

I read Clouds, Birds, Lysistrata, and Frogs. The underlying themes of the plays were actually pretty clever, once I could see past the dumb jokes. Maybe I'm old and boring, but I just didn't find the poop and penis jokes all that funny. As I reflected on each play after finishing it, however, I found them thought-provoking and sneakily smart.

Frogs was probably my favorite. It managed to be both amusing and somber. Frogs had a fun caper of a plot. But it was also serious, longing for the Athens of old before it was devastated by the Peloponnesian War. Sadly, unlike characters in the play, Athens could not be brought back from the dead.

A note on the Roche translation: It was ok, not great. Had some seriously bizarre footnotes and inconsistent commentary. I would still recommend this edition because it's an affordable way to have all of the plays of Aristophanes, but the world could really use a better-translated edition of his complete works.

For dislike and displeasure of the translations, rather than the plays.

I have to get some culture in my life.

I only read The Birds and I don't think I'll be reading any more. I wasn't impressed.

NOTE:  This review refers specifically to Aristophanes:  The Complete Plays:  a New Translation by Paul Roche , published by New American Library in 2005 [ISBN: 9780451214096]

I haven't read any other translations and can't read the original Greek versions, but (in my opinion) Paul Roche has provided a perfectly legible and understandable translation of all Aristophanes' plays currently available to us.

The Athenian, comic playwright Aristophanes was born c. 446 and died c. 386 BC.  He is generally described as “the father of comedy” and “the greatest ancient comic writer.”   Aristophanes wrote 40 plays, of which only 11 survive complete to this day.  Aristophanes avidly displays his opposition to war (the current politics of the day), as well as his dislike certain politicians, in the majority of his plays.  The majority of comedy in these plays derives from sexual and scatological humour (some things just don't change in 2500 years

Aristophanes is the founder of dramatic comedy in Europe. His marks can be seen very clearly on Shakespeare, Moliére, and many other dramatists. It is his style that dominates writing for modern comedy revues and television shows such as "Saturday Night Live". Aristophanes was the great master of parody, sexual innuendo and slapstick who first showed us how to use gross buffoonery for public entertainment.
Unfortunately, Aristophanes was extremely topical which makes it difficult for a modern reader to enjoy his work. Instead of quickly laughing and moving forward, one has to read the notes to find out who is being parodied and what it is about the person or persons that has made Aristophanes so cross.
One quickly realizes that Aristophanes felt that the Peloponnesian War was a great error and that he was furious with those who he considered responsible for it. He is also highly critical of Euripides and Socrates two cultural figures that are greatly admired today. While it is not difficult to see Aristophanes rage, it is in most cases rather difficult to understand the point that he is trying to make.
I do not recommend reading all of the eleven plays by Aristophanes which have survived. However, it my view there are two that offer great amusement and which can be enjoyed without constantly consulting the footnotes: Lysistrata and Ecclesiazusae. Lysistrata which is still occasionally performed tells the story of how the women of Athens conduct a sex striker in order to bring an end to the Peloponnesian War. In Ecclesiazusae the women of Athens seize control of the government and institute a communist regime. Not only is private property abolished but sexual relations are abolished. A man has the right to have sexual relations with any woman in the polis provided that he sleeps with all those that are uglier than the object of his desire first.
Those who do not enjoy filthy humour and are willing to struggle with footnotes might read The Birds and the Clouds instead in order to sample Aristophanes.

Interesting, especially as a historical document. Think I'll pick up Euripides next.

I have a special place in my heart for the play Birds