No Laughing Matter

A specially commissioned collection of papers covering widely read works, fragmentary plays and lost authors, giving a new perspective on the study of ancient comedy.

A commissioned collection of papers covering widely read works, fragmentary plays and lost authors, showcasing the best of new scholarship on Old and Middle comedy.No Laughing Matter is a wide-ranging collection of new studies of the comic theatre of Athens, from its origins until the 340s BCE. Fifteen international scholars employ an array of approaches and methodologies that will appeal to Classics and Theatre scholars while still remaining accessible to students. By including discussions of fragmentary authors alongside Aristophanes, the collection provides a broad understanding of the richness of Athenian comedy. The collection showcases the best of the new scholarship on Old and Middle Comedy, using the most up-to-date texts and tools. No Laughing Matter has been prepared in tribute to Professor Ian Storey of Trent University (Peterborough, Ontario), whose work on Athenian comedy will continue to shape scholarship for many years to come.