'? this book is a thoroughly researched, imaginative and engaging piece of scholarship which deserves a prominent place in Aristophanic studies.' Emmanuela Bakola, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Athenian comedy was written for performance in competitions at religious festivals. This book applies traditional philological techniques to five of Aristophanes' plays in order to demonstrate how that competitive context shaped his poetry and plots, as he sought to engage his rivals and impress the audience in order to win.