Hilaire de Vos Books

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Molière's story of a covetous old miser, obsessively protecting his hoard of gold and neglecting his long-suffering children. Harpagon is obsessed with the wealth he has amassed and always ready to save expenses. Now a widower, he has a son, Cléante, and a daughter, Élise. Although he is over sixty, he is attempting to marry his son's own sweetheart, Mariane. But it seems that Harpagon's pinchpenny paranoia is finally catching up with him - his gold is missing, and this time it might really have disappeared for good... The Miser was first performed in 1668, at the theatre of the Palais-Royal, Paris. This English version, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classic series, is translated and introduced by Martin Sorrell.

The play explores the tragic consequences of forbidden love, centering on Phaedra, who, despite being married to Theseus, falls for his son Hippolytus. Their intertwined desires lead to devastating outcomes when Phaedra, believing her husband is dead, confesses her love. The narrative delves into themes of passion, betrayal, and the complexities of familial relationships. Celebrated as a masterpiece, it remains a significant work in French literature, showcasing Racine's mastery of poetic form and dramatic tension. This edition features a translation by Robert Bruce Boswell.