It was published by talonbooks and has a total of 160 pages in the book. Here are just a few of the allusions rostand makes to the three musketeers. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Boldly signed by american actor otis skinner in pencil on the front endpaper and dated 1898. The play in its original french is written entirely in rhyming couplets. A quarrelsome, hottempered, and unattractive swordsman falls hopelessly in love with a beautiful woman, roxanne.
Of my broad felt made lighter, i cast my mantle broad, and stand, poet and fighter, to do and to record. This is edmond rostand s immortal play in which chivalry and wit, bravery and love are forever captured in the timeless spirit of romance. Despite cyranos brilliance and charisma, a shockingly large nose afflicts his appearance, and he considers himself too ugly even to risk telling roxane his feelings. Fanciful artwork and some wellchosen explanatory notes make this a great introduction to a great story, equal parts comedy, romance, and drama.
Edmond rostand was born in 1868 in marseilles, france, on what is now known as rue edmondrostand. Discover similar books recommended by the worlds most successful people in 2020. Translated from the french by gladys thomas and mary f. The entire play is written in verse, in rhyming couplets of twelve syllables per line, very close to the classical alexandrine form, but the verses sometimes lack a. Jenkins place of publication new york date published 1898 keywords first edition french literature drama. The story of cyrano, his famous nose, and his undying love for the beautiful roxanne evokes the spirit and panache of 17th century france. The plays that have been staged since the first publication are legend, and many movies have also been made. The entire play is written in verse, in rhyming couplets of 12 syllables per line, very close to the alexandrine format, but the verses sometimes lack a caesura. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. It was the most popular play of the era, and since its first performance there has hardly been a time when it was not in production somewhere in the world. Set in 17thcentury paris, the action revolves around the. Rostands family was active in the arts, his uncle was a famous composer, his aunt a poet. This book is the 511th greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. Though its moliere thats more often used as a french answer to shakespeare, edmond rostand s cyrano has to be about the only riposte to hamlet available in human literature.
The entire play is written in verse, in rhyming couplets of twelve syllables per line, very close to the classical alexandrine form, but the verses sometimes lack a caesura. This adaptation is the most faithful to the original french text and reduced to an hour and 30 minutes and for 10 actors. Set in louis xiiis reign, it is the moving and exciting drama of one of the finest swordsmen in france, gallant soldier, brilliant wit, tragic poetlover with the face of a clown. This is edmond rostands immortal play in which chivalry and. Though its moliere thats more often used as a french answer to shakespeare, edmond rostands cyrano has to be about the only riposte to hamlet available in human literature. A different kind of beauty, a swashbuckling kind of beast. Adapted in english and for the stage by david serero.