Edmond Rostand Books

This is Edmond Rostand's immortal play in which chivalry and wit, bravery and love are forever captured in the timeless spirit of romance. Set in Louis XIII’s reign, it is the moving and exciting drama of one of the finest swordsmen in France, gallant soldier, brilliant wit, tragic poet-lover with the face of a clown. Rostand’s extraordinary lyric powers gave birth to a universal hero—Cyrano De Bergerac—and ensured his own reputation as author of one of the best-loved plays in the literature of the stage. This translation, by the American poet Brian Hooker, is nearly as famous as the original play itself, and is generally considered to be one of the finest English verse translations ever written.

Set against a backdrop of familial conflict, the story follows Percinet and Sylvette, two young lovers who defy their feuding fathers' wishes. They secretly meet at the wall dividing their gardens, yearning for peace between their families. Their romance mirrors that of Romeo and Juliet, yet takes a hopeful turn when an unexpected resolution to the hostilities arises just before the first act concludes, promising a happy ending to their love story.

The story follows Don Juan, notorious for his numerous seductions across Europe, as he faces the Devil's wrath. In a desperate bid to extend his life by ten years, he strikes a deal to serve the Devil by pursuing even more women, ensuring they are left heartbroken and desolate. This dark pact explores themes of temptation, morality, and the consequences of a life devoted to hedonism, as Don Juan navigates the complexities of desire and the ultimate price of his actions.

Das meistgespielte Stück des französischen Theaters in der kongenialen Übersetzung von Frank Günther. In seinem vor Wortwitz sprühenden Drama erzählt Edmond Rostand die Geschichte von Cyrano de Bergerac, ein Dichter und Soldat des 17. Jahrhunderts, der unter seiner riesigen Nase zu leiden hat. Cyrano verliebt sich in seine schöne Cousine Roxane, verbirgt jedoch seine wahren Gefühle. Als er merkt, dass sich Roxane ihrerseits zu seinem gutaussehenden Freund Christian hingezogen fühlt, verhilft er den beiden zu ihrem vermeintlichen Glück, indem er Roxane in Christians Namen Briefe schreibt. Denn vor allem will Cyrano verhindern, dass der Regimentshauptmann Guiche, der ebenfalls ein Auge auf Roxane geworfen hat, sie zu seiner Geliebten macht. Eine turbulente Geschichte voller abenteuerlicher Verwicklungen nimmt ihren Lauf ...

Vienne, Schönbrunn, Metternich, un empire qui se croyait éternel malgré l'ombre de Napoléon qui pèse encore sur l'Europe à travers un jeune homme irrésistible de charme, de fragilité et de mélancolie, une sorte d'Hamlet androgyne qui fut le grand rôle de Sarah Bernhardt et qui était le duc de Reichstadt, le fils de l'Ogre et de l'Aigle : le roi de Rome, l'Aiglon. Les ailes de l'Aiglon naissent, s'ouvrent, palpitent au souvenir de tant de puissance et de gloire, tels que les évoque devant lui Séraphin Flambeau, le grognard légendaire de la Grande Armée. Mais l'histoire n'aime pas les redites et les ailes meurtries vont bientôt se fermer. Le roi de Rome mourra comme il a vécu, en prince autrichien, la pièce se terminant sur la réplique fameuse de Metternich (qui a eu tout de même un peu peur) : " Vous lui remettrez son uniforme blanc. "

One of the most beloved heroes of the stage, Cyrano de Bergerac is a magnificent wit who, despite his many gifts, feels that no woman can ever love him because of his enormous nose. He adores the beautiful Roxanne but, lacking courage, decides instead to help the tongue-tied but winsome Christian woo the fair lady by providing him with flowery sentiments and soulful poetry. Roxanne is smitten-but is it Christian she loves or Cyrano? A triumph from the moment of its 1897 premiere, Cyrano de Bergerac has become one of the most frequently produced plays in the world. Its perennial popularity is a tribute to the universal appeal of its themes and characters.