Delphi Complete Works of Jean Racine (Illustrated)

Book excerpt: One of the three great playwrights of seventeenth century France, along with Molière and Corneille, Jean Racine is as a significant figure of world literature. Primarily a tragedian, producing neoclassical masterpieces such as ‘Phèdre’, ‘Andromaque’ and ‘Athalie’, Racine also composed the comedy ‘Les Plaideurs’. His works demonstrate a mastery of the 12-syllable French alexandrine — a verse form that influenced European literature for over two centuries. Renowned for their elegance, purity, speed and fury, Racine’s dramas are characterised by psychological insight, the prevailing passion of characters and the economy of both plot and stage. This eBook presents Racine’s complete plays, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Racine’s life and works * Concise introductions to the dramas * All 12 plays, with individual contents tables * Translations by Robert Bruce Boswell, 1880 * Images of how the books were first published, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the play texts * Easily locate the scenes you want to read * Includes rare dramas – available in no other collection * Features four biographies – discover Racine’s intriguing life * Ordering of texts into chronological order and genres CONTENTS: The Tragedies The Thebaid (1664) Alexander the Great (1665) Andromache (1667) Britannicus (1669) Berenice (1670) Bajazet (1672) Mithridate (1673) Iphigenia (1674) Phaedre (1677) Esther (1689) Athaliah (1691) (tr. J. Donkersley, 1825) The Comedy The Litigants (1668) The Biographies Racine (1838) by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Racine (1900) by William Cleaver Wilkinson Racine (1908) by Lytton Strachey Jean Racine (1911) by George Saintsbury