Book excerpt: While there is clearly no dearth of material on Greek theatre, until now no systematic effort has been made to integrate the Classical tradition with our modern perceptions and adaptations of it. Professor Walton's unique guide to Greek drama takes on this task, bringing together a wealth of information on Athenian tragedy and comedy as performed and appreciated in its own time and as embodied on the modern stage. The introductory section highlights some of the characteristic features of Greek tragedy and comedy and suggests how and under what conditions plays were first performed. The following section consists of analyses of the thirty-three surviving plays attributed to Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Each essay provides information on dates, characters, size of roles, and plot, together with an assessment of staging problems and a review of dramatic and theatrical qualities. The section concludes with a discussion of the influence of Greek tragic tradition on Roman drama.