Greeks and Romans on the Latin American Stage - (Bloomsbury Studies in Classical Reception) by Rosa Andújar & Konstantinos P Nikoloutsos (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The first comprehensive treatment in English of the rich and varied afterlife of classical drama across Latin America, this volume explores the myriad ways in which ancient Greek and Roman texts have been adapted, invoked and re-worked in notable modern theatrical works across North and South America and the Caribbean, while also paying particular attention to the national and local context of each play.

A comprehensive introduction provides a critical overview of the varying issues and complexities that arise when studying the afterlife of the European classics in the theatrical stages across this diverse and vast region. Fourteen chapters, divided into three general geographical sub-regions (Southern Cone, Brazil and the Caribbean and North America) present a strong connection to an ancient dramatic source text as well as comment upon important socio-political crises in the modern history of Latin America. The diversity and expertise of the voices in this volume translate into a multi-ranging approach to the topic that encompasses a variety of theoretical and interdisciplinary perspectives from classics, Latin American studies and theatre and performance studies.

Review Quotes

"Greeks and Romans on the Latin American Stage is a fine addition to Bloomsbury's Studies in Classical Reception collection ... It shows that Latin America is a region that Anglophone scholarship can no longer afford to overlook, and throws down an impressive gauntlet for scholars in the field to begin wrestling with the reception of antiquity on the Latin American stage." --Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"[A] volume that brings to light little-known adaptations from a variety of countries in the area addressing many of its present conflicts and recent past turmoil, is extremely valuable. Moreover, the fact that the book starts by highlighting the need to redefine certain terms taken for granted to examine reception in 'Latin America' and to acknowledge that this is not a homogeneous area but a highly diverse region that cannot be studied as a single unit, is certainly refreshing, reassuring, and a step in the right direction." --Classics for All

About the Author

Rosa Andújar is Deputy Director of Liberal Arts and Lecturer in Liberal Arts at King's College London, UK.

Konstantinos P. Nikoloutsos is Associate Professor of Classics at Saint Joseph's University, USA.