
At a Glance
Paperback
RRP $32.99
$27.17
18%OFF
Aims to ship in 10 to 15 business days
The plays collected in this volume illustrate Moliere's broad range of comic devices, from satire and farce to slapstick and wordplay. In Tartuffe and The Doctor Despite Himself, Moliere mocks those taken in by a religious hypocrite and a bogus physician, while Such Foolish Affected Ladies and Those Learned Ladies ridicule the excessive refinement of the Parisian smart set. And in The Misanthrope and The Would-Be Gentleman, Moliere warns us of the dangers of obsession and intolerance. Exposing duplicity, snobbery and hypocrisy, his plays are masterly studies in the absurdities of human nature.
John Wood's and David Coward translation preserves the humour of the original French. In his introduction, David Coward discusses changing views of the plays over the centuries. This edition includes a chronology, bibliography and notes.
About The Author
Molière was the stage name of Jean Baptiste Poquelin, the son of a wealthy merchant upholsterer. He was born in Paris in 1622. At the age of twenty-one he resigned the office at Court purchased for him by his father and threw in his lot with a company of actors to found the so-styled 'Illustre Théâtre'. The nucleus of the company was drawn from one family, the Béjarts. Armande, the youngest daughter, was to become his wife.
Failing to establish themselves in Paris, the company took to the provinces for twelve years. When they returned to the capital it was with Molière as their leader and a number of the farces he had devised as their stock in trade. Invited to perform before Louis XIV, Molière secured the King's staunch patronage. In 1659 Les Précieuses ridicules achieved a great success, which was confirmed by L'École des femmes three years later. With Tartuffe, however, Molière encountered trouble; it outraged contemporary religious opinion and was forbidden public performance for several years. Don Juan also had a controversial history. Le Misanthrope, first performed in 1666, is generally considered to be the peak of Molière's achievement. Among plays that followed were L'Avare, Le Médecin malgré lui, Les Femmes savantes, and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, one of the comedy-ballets to which Lully contributed the music.
By 1665 the company had become 'la troupe du Roi', playing at the Palais Royal. While taking the part of Argan in Le Malade imaginaire in 1673, Molière was taken ill, and he died the same evening. The troupe survived, however, to become one of the forerunners of the Comédie-Française.
John Wood's and David Coward translation preserves the humour of the original French. In his introduction, David Coward discusses changing views of the plays over the centuries. This edition includes a chronology, bibliography and notes.
About The Author
Molière was the stage name of Jean Baptiste Poquelin, the son of a wealthy merchant upholsterer. He was born in Paris in 1622. At the age of twenty-one he resigned the office at Court purchased for him by his father and threw in his lot with a company of actors to found the so-styled 'Illustre Théâtre'. The nucleus of the company was drawn from one family, the Béjarts. Armande, the youngest daughter, was to become his wife.
Failing to establish themselves in Paris, the company took to the provinces for twelve years. When they returned to the capital it was with Molière as their leader and a number of the farces he had devised as their stock in trade. Invited to perform before Louis XIV, Molière secured the King's staunch patronage. In 1659 Les Précieuses ridicules achieved a great success, which was confirmed by L'École des femmes three years later. With Tartuffe, however, Molière encountered trouble; it outraged contemporary religious opinion and was forbidden public performance for several years. Don Juan also had a controversial history. Le Misanthrope, first performed in 1666, is generally considered to be the peak of Molière's achievement. Among plays that followed were L'Avare, Le Médecin malgré lui, Les Femmes savantes, and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, one of the comedy-ballets to which Lully contributed the music.
By 1665 the company had become 'la troupe du Roi', playing at the Palais Royal. While taking the part of Argan in Le Malade imaginaire in 1673, Molière was taken ill, and he died the same evening. The troupe survived, however, to become one of the forerunners of the Comédie-Française.
ISBN: 9780140447309
ISBN-10: 014044730X
Series: Penguin Classics
Published: 1st September 2000
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 352
Audience: General Adult
For Ages: 18+ years old
Publisher: Penguin UK
Country of Publication: GB
Edition Number: 1
Dimensions (cm): 19.5 x 13 x 2
Weight (kg): 0.27
Shipping
Standard Shipping | Express Shipping | |
---|---|---|
Metro postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
Regional postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
Rural postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
How to return your order
At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.
Additional postage charges may be applicable.
Defective items
If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.
For more info please visit our Help Centre.
You Can Find This Book In
This product is categorised by
- Non-FictionLiterature, Poetry & PlaysPlays
- Non-FictionLiterature, Poetry & PlaysHistory & Criticism of LiteratureLiterary Studies of Plays & Playwrights
- Non-FictionLiterature, Poetry & PlaysHistory & Criticism of LiteratureGeneral Literary StudiesLiterary Studies from 1500 to 1800
- FictionClassic FictionPenguin Black Classics Penguin Black Classics Plays