Seventeenth-Century French Drama

by Jacques Guicharnaud

The Plays included in this anthology date from 1967, first performance of Le Cid, to 1691, first performance of Athalie (Athaliah). They are sample of dramatic production during a particularly fruitful half-century. Contents The Cid by Corneille The Precious Damsels by Moliere Tartuffe by Moliere That would be Gentleman By Moliere Phaedra By Racine Athaliah by Racine

Genres: Drama

349 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1967

Reviews

[Jeffrey Falk]

French classicism (especially Racine) is more like poetry than theater. This edition of plays by Corneille, Molière, and Racine (in descending order of quality) has an informative general introduction and specific introductions to Racine's plays (which are a bit too derivative of Greek drama). Corneille's "The Cid" is a majestic precursor of romanticism, and Moliére's satires are neigh on uproarious.

[Mshelton50]

I read the three Moliere plays, and Racine's "Phaedra." All good reads. I especially liked "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" and "Phaedra."