
Illustrations by Norman Lindsay
LYSISTRATA - The Persons of the drama.
In the thick of the endless Peloponnesian conflict, the city’s streets echo with the clamor of soldiers and the weary sighs of families torn apart. Against this backdrop, a sharp‑witted Athenian woman named Lysistrata gathers a coalition of like‑minded women from both Athens and Sparta. She proposes a bold, unconventional strike: the women will withhold intimacy until the men finally lay down their arms. The idea is both absurd and daring, setting the stage for a riotous clash of wills that bursts with witty dialogue and bawdy humor.
As the women seize the sacred Acropolis and begin their self‑imposed embargo, the male leaders scramble to restore order, only to find themselves outmaneuvered by the very citizens they have ignored. The play spirals into a series of comedic confrontations—political debates, slap‑stick antics, and heartfelt pleas—that expose the folly of war and the power of collective action. Through clever wordplay and vivid characters, the story invites listeners to laugh while pondering the timeless struggle between desire, duty, and peace.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (82K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Ted Garvin, David Widger and the Distributed Proofreaders Team
Release date
2005-03-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

-450–-388
A sharp and fearless comic voice from ancient Athens, this playwright turned public life into brilliant theater. His surviving comedies still feel lively today, full of political satire, wild imagination, and jokes with a sting.
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