Plautus and Roman Slavery

“Stewart has shown how Plautus and his society were aware of slavery as a complex and contradictory institution that raised perplexing questions in human relations. Slavery informed the lived experience of Plautus’ audience and this reality was embedded in Plautus’ dramatization of master-slave relations. Anyone who seeks to understand the poet and his audience on their own terms should read Plautus and Roman Slavery."  (Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 1 November 2012)

“Summing Up: Recommended.  Graduate students, researchers, faculty.”  (Choice, 1 November 2012)

“A unique discussion of the religious, legal and literary context of slavery in the comedies of Plautus.” – Niall McKeown, University of Birmingham

“Stewart's legal/political approach, and her engagement with current work on New World human trafficking, make this book a must for students of slavery ancient and modern as well as for readers of comedy.” – Amy Richlin, University of California, Los Angeles

“Plautus and Roman Slavery is that rare thing – a truly original book. This is not the first study to take the comedies of Plautus as historical documents of their own time and society, but it is unusual in placing slavery at the centre of the picture. By adopting methods developed in American slavery studies, and applying them to Plautus' plays, Roberta Stewart succeeds brilliantly in recreating the lived experience of Roman slaves.” – Timothy Cornell, University of Manchester