{"product_id":"four-french-plays","title":"Four French Plays","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis new Penguin volume includes the ''greatest hits'' of French classical theatre, in vivid and acclaimed English translations. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe plays in this volume - \u003ci\u003eCinna\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Misanthrope\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAndromache\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003ePhaedra\u003c\/i\u003e - span only thirty-seven years, but make up the defining period of French theatre. In Corneille''s \u003ci\u003eCinna \u003c\/i\u003e(1640), absolute power is explored in ancient Rome, while Molière''s \u003ci\u003eThe Misanthrope \u003c\/i\u003e(1666), the only comedy in this collection, sees its anti-hero outcast for his refusal to conform to social conventions. Here also are two key plays by Racine: \u003ci\u003eAndromache\u003c\/i\u003e (1667), recounting the tragedy of Hector''s widow after the Trojan War, and \u003ci\u003ePhaedre \u003c\/i\u003e(1677), showing a mother crossing the bounds of love with her son.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJohn Edmunds'' translation of \u003ci\u003ePhaedra\u003c\/i\u003e was originally broadcast on Radio Three with a cast including Prunella Scales and Timothy West, and was subsequently praised by Harold Pinter. This is the first time it has been published.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOften hailed as the father of French tragedy, PIERRE CORNEILLE made his name with the tragicomedy \u003ci\u003eLe Cid\u003c\/i\u003e in 1637. His best-known works include the tragedies \u003ci\u003eHorace\u003c\/i\u003e (1640) and \u003ci\u003eCinna\u003c\/i\u003e (1641). MOLIÈRE founded the ''Illustre Théâtre'' troupe and wrote numerous comedies, including \u003ci\u003eTartuffe\u003c\/i\u003e (1664), which was banned, \u003ci\u003eLe Misanthrope\u003c\/i\u003e (1666) and \u003ci\u003eL''Avare\u003c\/i\u003e (1668). JEAN RACINE became known as one of the period''s leading playwrights, with such tragedies as \u003ci\u003eAndromaque\u003c\/i\u003e (1667), \u003ci\u003eBritannicus\u003c\/i\u003e (1669) and \u003ci\u003ePhèdre\u003c\/i\u003e (1677). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter a varied career as an actor, teacher, and BBC TV national newsreader, JOHN EDMUNDS became the founder-director of Aberystwyth university''s department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJOSEPH HARRIS is Senior Lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London and author of \u003ci\u003eHidden Agendas: Cross-Dressing in Seventeenth-Century France\u003c\/i\u003e (2005).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MediaPlace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57393503666558,"sku":"NW9780141392080","price":12.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1379\/1261\/files\/9780141392080.jpg?v=1778686242","url":"https:\/\/mediaplace.com\/en-eu\/products\/four-french-plays","provider":"MediaPlace","version":"1.0","type":"link"}