Amphitryon (Translated By Oscar Mandel from French) [Paperback]

Moliere (Author), Beth Arnett (Illustrator), Oscar Mandel (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1977 | ISBN-10: 0914502034 | ISBN-13: 978-0914502036

Wilbur is at the peak of his form in this stellar translation of an unusual Molière play-populated with Greeks and Greco-Roman gods and flavored with the essences of vaudeville, fan-tasy, high comedy, farce, and even opera. Afterword by Richard Wilbur.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation)

About the Author

RICHARD WILBUR, one of America’s most beloved poets, has served as poet --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 58 pages
• Publisher: Spectrum Productions (June 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0914502034
• ISBN-13: 978-0914502036
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,633,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > Moliere

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious! Amazing translation, March 27, 2001

By 

Damon Timm (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amphitryon, by Moliere (Paperback)

This is an extremely funny, well written (& translated) play; Wilbur does a terrific job with the English verse, which makes the play read like an original--rather than a translation. Finding a well translated version of non-english written plays can often be difficult (especially with so many translations available), but this one is truly terrific.

This was the first play I had read by Moliere, and it wasn't at all what I was expected. It is a very light, easy and hilarious read. I laugh out loud each time I read it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wilbur scores again!, April 25, 2003

By 

J. Ott "John Ott" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amphitryon, by Moliere (Paperback)

Wilbur faithfully reproduces some of Moliere's more experimental versification in this update of Plautus' Amphitruo, the story of Greek general who is impersonated by the god Jupiter-- so that Jupiter can share a bed with his wife! Moliere, a master of farce, plays this mistaken identity to its comic hilt.

Wilbur's translation here is peerless and his Afterword is wonderfully informative. This is not my favorite of his Moliere translations (I like The School for Wives and The Misanthrope) but I'd be hard-pressed to name a fault. Voltaire said of this play, "I laughed so hard that I fell over backwards." I didn't fall over backwards, but I got a good chuckle or two out if it.