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Cambridge University Press, 2019. XXX,412p. Paperback. Series: Cambridge Companions to Literature. 'The volume under review comes during an exciting wave of recent publications on Roman Comedy. (.) it differentiates itself in its aim to study the comoedia palliata as a distinctly Roman genre, thereby shifting the focus from the palliata?s relationship with its Hellenistic originals to the complexity and impact of the plays as theatrical and literary phenomena. (.) The companion contains 22 chapters that are organized into four main sections: Part I, The World of Roman Comedy, Part II, The Fabric of Roman Comedy, Part III, The Sociology of Roman Comedy, and Part IV, The Reception of Roman Comedy. The structure naturally begins with an examination of the palliata within its numerous contexts, then shifts to the technical elements of the genre; next, it addresses social readings before concluding with the study of its reception. The essays themselves range from informative introductions to specific perspectives that reflect the advances in their respective areas of Roman comic study. The selection of contributors includes leading scholars who have shaped the field of Roman Comedy in recent decades, and whose chapters in this volume are representative of their influential work on the subject. The outcome, therefore, is a high-quality and thorough companion that is accessible to scholars both new to and familiar with the Roman comic corpus. (.) The well-balanced mixture of specialized studies and sophisticated surveys is both stimulating and encourages scholars and students alike to investigate and critique the plays themselves.' (CASSANDRA TRAN in BMCR 2020.05.17).