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Includes the plays The Liar, The Illusion, Le Cid Pierre Corneille (1606–84), the great seventeenth-century neoclassical dramatist, wrote over thirty plays during his long and varied career. Triumphant in both comedy and tragedy, his plays remain at the core of the repertory. When the young Molière saw The Liar (Le Menteur), a delightful chronicle of a pathological liar’s adventures in love, he decided to become a playwright. The Illusion (L’Illusion Comique) is a fascinating and mysterious tragi-comedy, one of the first plays to explore consciously the relationship between theatre and the real world. Le Cid, Corneille’s best known play, was controversial in its day, and led to a resurgence in French drama. Ranjit Bolt’s version of The Liar finds a way of rendering rhyming couplets which ‘no one else from the history of translating for the theatre has ever done...with some style and without sacrificing the sense of gallantry that is so essential to the original text.’ (BBC Radio3’s Critics Forum.) Both The Liar and The Illusion recently enjoyed critical and box office success at the Old Vic, reaffirming Ranjit Bolt as one of the world’s foremost translators of drama.

Pierre Corneille's 'The Cid' is a classic tragicomedy that unfolds in the 17th century Spain, featuring themes of honor, love, and familial conflict. The play is written in the quintessential rhymed verses of French classical theater, embodying the strict rules of the 'unities' and displaying Corneille's masterful command of language and structure. 'The Cid' is a seminal work of the French Golden Age, admired for its exploration of moral dilemmas and complex characters, especially the protagonist Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar. Corneille skillfully navigates the delicate balance between passion and duty, creating a timeless piece that continues to resonate with audiences today. Pierre Corneille, a prominent playwright of the 17th century, was known for his contributions to French drama. His background in law and literature provided him with a unique perspective that is reflected in the nuanced themes of 'The Cid'. Corneille's fascination with human nature and the intricacies of relationships likely inspired him to write this enduring play, which showcases his deep understanding of the human psyche. For readers interested in classic French drama and captivating storytelling, 'The Cid' by Pierre Corneille is a must-read. This influential work offers a compelling narrative filled with ethical dilemmas and emotional depth, making it a timeless piece of literature that continues to captivate audiences with its timeless themes and engaging characters.

This book is a collection of some of the finest works by the great French playwright, Pierre Corneille. It includes such masterpieces as Le Cid, Horace, and Cinna, and offers readers an opportunity to appreciate Corneille's genius for drama. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Tragedy by Pierre Corneille, first performed 1645, and remarkable for its powerful, if melodramatic, portrait of moral evil. The central character, Cléopâtre, queen of Syria, will sacrifice anything to retain power. Only she can decide between the rival claims of her twin sons, Antiochus and Séleucus, to inherit the throne; she promises her voice to whichever of the two will rid her of Rodogune, princess of Parthia, whose hand is destined to the new king. Both princes love Rodogune, but she confronts them with a terrible dilemma by promising love to whichever kills his mother. In desperation Cléopâtre kills Séleucus, the weaker of the twins, and prepares a poisoned cup for the wedding of Antiochus and Rodogune, but is forced into drinking it herself, and dies defiant. -- Answer.com.

"Noel Clark's stylishly crafted verse translations of three of Corneille's finest plays are brought together here in one volume. Le Cid is perhaps Corneille's most famous play and derives from his reading of Spanish literature - the play provided him with a triumph and signalled a resurgence in French drama but it provoked much enmity amongst fellow writers. Cinna and Polyeuct both belong to the series of 'Roman' plays which established Corneille as the foremost tragedian of his day."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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"Well translated by Lacy Lockert, who provided an excellent critical introduction, this is a valuable selection of the plays of the great French Neo-Classicist. Included are Horace, The Cid, Cinna, Polyeucte, Rodugune, Nicomede."—Library Journal. Originally published in 1952. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.