Heap Angela M. - Behind the Mask

Series Editor: David Taylor

Classics and the Bible: Hospitality and Recognition
John Taylor

Culture and Philosophy in the Age of Plotinus
Mark Edwards

Homer: The Resonance of Epic
Barbara Graziosi & Johannes Haubold

Juvenal and the Satiric Genre
Frederick Jones

Ovid and His Love Poetry
Rebecca Armstrong

Pastoral Inscriptions: Reading and Writing Virgils Eclogues
Brian Breed

Pausanias: Travel Writing in Ancient Greece
Maria Pretzler

Propertius: Poet of Love and Leisure
Alison Keith

Silent Eloquence: Lucian and Pantomime Dancing
Ismene Lada-Richards

Statius, Poet Between Rome and Naples
Carole E. Newlands

The Myth of Paganism
Robert Shorrock

The Roman Book
Rex Winsbury

Thucydides and the Shaping of History
Emily Greenwood

For John

I would like to thank the staff of the following libraries: the Faculty of Classics, Cambridge, particularly Lyn Bailey and Judith Waring, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge and its Elizabeth Rawson collection, the University Library and the Central Library in Cambridge, the library of the Institute of Classical Studies in London, and that of the Fondation Hardt, Geneva.

This book could not have been written without the teaching of the marvellous Eric Handley, in particular for his humble observation that critics only frame the painting they dont paint it. There are no words to thank Pat Easterling for supporting the project with her patient encouragement and mentoring, and her belief that nothing is wasted. The Fellows of Murray Edwards very kindly included me in their number and once granted a sabbatical to me as their Librarian, which was very useful. David Konstan should be thanked for once walking all the way up to Murray Edwards to talk about Menander and for morale-boosting postcards. Thanks also to Lin Foxhall and Graham Shipley.

Paul Cartledge is owed a great debt for wading through my (almost) final draft. Colin Austin also read drafts and shared his love of deciphering Menander papyri; he stayed up all night to find out what happened in the Samia. Richard Hunter read an early draft of some of my ideas. Franco Basso answered some rather last-minute linguistic queries. Judith Owen discussed my work and offered helpful suggestions. Paul Millett passed on duplicate articles from Professor Sandbachs private library and Rosanna Omitowoju helped with the historical context. Despina Christodoulou imparted her knowledge of the role of the hetaira over tea. I have very much appreciated the moral support of several other members of the Faculty of Classics in Cambridge. Any errors, of course, are my own responsibility.

Various friends from my Oxford days and librarian colleagues from the University of Reading, Emmanuel and Murray Edwards, Cambridge have encouraged me over the years. My Dry Drayton revue friends have also given moral support, practical experience of putting on shows and, most importantly, have made me laugh. Ilektra Devereux helped me decipher Dedoussis modern Greek commentary on the Samia. I am grateful to members of my French conversation class for their friendship; Jenny Bovaird has answered emails giving IT support. Joan Sandford and members of Liz Beardmores family have even read some of my work.

I would also like to thank Huw Stevenson for sending me a copy of his splendid family history.

Eric and Margaret Heap gave me a love of classics and comedy and, with John and Eileen Patterson, help with young children. My husband John and my daughters Emily and Laura have been wonderful in their belief that the book would one day be finished. Team Angela, as they have become, did a great deal to assist in the final stages.

My gratitude is also due to the editors at Bloomsbury, especially David Taylor, for their belief in the project and for their patience. My apologies if I have forgotten anyone elses contribution: the price of enjoying my childrens company has been that this book has taken a long time to write.

Approximately one thousand three hundred and fifty (1,350) words are taken from Menander:Plays and Fragments, translated with an introduction by Norma Miller (London and New York: Penguin Classics, 1987). Copyright Norma Miller, 1987. Reproduced by permission of Penguin Books Ltd.