Books in the Classics Companions series

This is an edition of Book VI of Thucydides. Its notes aim to assist translation, draw attention to features of language and style characteristic of the author, make explicit what the author took for granted in his original audience and comment on the historical background.

This companion to the Penguin translation of Tacitus' book XIV provides commentary on an important period of Roman history, the years 59-62 AD when Nero was freed (mainly by murder) from the restraints imposed by Agrippina, Burrus and Octavia. The commentary pays special attention to Tacitus' use of stylistic devices to emphasis important events and traits of personality.

'Menander has so blended his diction that it suits every nature, every disposition, every age.' With these words Plutarch summed up the achievements of this most distinguished writer of New Comedy. The blend of amusement and perceptive human sympathy has made Menander's works as accessible to the modern reader as they were to the audience of his day.This book is designed to be read alongside the Penguin translations of Old Cantankerous, The Girl from Samos, The Arbitration, The Rape of the Locks, The Shield, The Sikyonian, The Man She Hated and The Double Deceiver. With detailed analysis of Menander's dramatic genius, and particularly good insights into dramatic values, characterisation and structure, Stanley Ireland's commentary will form an essential companion to the translations for many years to come.