What was 'comic' about Aristophanes' comedies? For those approaching Aristophanes without a knowledge of Greek, Sir Kenneth Dover's companion to "Clouds" and Simon Tremmewan's to "Acharnians" and "Lysistrata" provide an insight into the characteristically Greek elements of comedy which can be lost when reading in translation. They also address the serious issues and criticisms which Aristophanes presents all the more effectively through comedy, and give interesting notes on the treatment which the translation gives to the original Greek.