Rostand's masterpiece-and the ultimate triumph of the great French romantic tradition-is the magnificent hero-for-all-seasons, Cyrano de Bergerac.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Verse drama in five acts by Edmond Rostand, performed in 1897 and published the following year. Set in 17th-century Paris, the action revolves around the emotional problems of the noble, swashbuckling Cyrano, who, despite his many gifts, feels that no woman can ever love him because he has an enormous nose. Secretly in love with the lovely Roxane, Cyrano agrees to help his inarticulate rival, Christian, win her heart by allowing him to present Cyrano's love poems, speeches, and letters as his own work. Eventually Christian recognizes that Roxane loves him for Cyrano's qualities, not his own, and he asks Cyrano to confess his identity to Roxane; Christian then goes off to a battle that proves fatal. Cyrano remains silent about his own part in Roxane's courtship. As he is dying years later, he visits Roxane and recites one of the love letters. Roxane realizes that it is Cyrano she loves, and he dies content. Cyrano de Bergerac was based only nominally on the 17th-century nobleman of the same name, known for his bold adventures and large nose. --The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From the Publisher
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.
--This text refers to an alternate
Mass Market Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Gary S
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I've been around theater for quite a while, and I was lucky enough to be in this play twice, once as Cyrano. I've done Shakespeare, O'Neill, Chekhov...and I've never been in a play that comes close to this in terms of dramatic force.
The fashion in French theater at the time it was written was simple domestic drama: husbands and wives and their various conflicts. This play exploded on the scene and there was extremely strong public reaction. (I think there may even have been riots.)
For modern American audiences, I must confess, it's a pretty long haul. Even with some judicious cutting, it's tough to get the thing down close to three hours. But what a ride! Poetry, fight scenes, comedy, tears...it's just incredible.
In all the plays I've done, I've never done one that comes so close to, literally, the meaning of life. Why are we here? What makes human beings act the way they do? Why do people try things that are clearly impossible? It's all in there.
I knew someone in college who gave this paperback edition to everyone he knew as a gift, because it spoke so strongly to him.
Looking back on it now, I'm amazed that I was able to memorize all the text, because I'm convinced that this is the longest role in Western theater...longer than Hamlet, I think.
Hooker's translation has been called the greatest translation of poetry ever, and while I'm not a poetry student, I can agree. Squishing the 6-foot French lines into 5-foot English lines and still retaining the dramatic flow must have been a daunting task.
Anyway, it's the greatest play I have ever seen, read or performed.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I love this play! It has wit, comedy, adventure, danger and intellectual swordplay. But most importantly, it has a character(Cyrano) who values his life and principles above all else. Read it now! Also, if you enjoyed Cyrano as much as I did, check out "The Lost Sonnets of Cyrano de Bergerac" by James Carcioppolo. I read it hoping for more of Cyrano's spirit and love of life; I was not disapointed!
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Cyrano de Bergerac by Rostand is my favourite play. The French original is a gem in almost every respect. It is wonderfully well written in Alexandrine (a difficult form of verse). Rostand's romantic masterpiece shines not only as a play, but as poetry.
This particular translation (unattributed) is pedestrian. It is accurate, but tin-eared. It is not the Brian Hooker translation. I state that because I wound up buying it in the belief that it was the Hooker translation and was consequently much disappointed.
For any literary work originally written in another language (this, Don Quixote, All Quiet on the Western Front), it is important to pay attention to who is responsible for the translation. Some translators are awful. Some are mediocre (such as whoever did this one). And some are wonderful (Brian Hooker).
For those who are not as enamored of Brian Hooker's work as I am, the Anthony Burgess translation is also quite good.
Caveat Emptor.
This particular translation (unattributed) is pedestrian. It is accurate, but tin-eared. It is not the Brian Hooker translation. I state that because I wound up buying it in the belief that it was the Hooker translation and was consequently much disappointed.
For any literary work originally written in another language (this, Don Quixote, All Quiet on the Western Front), it is important to pay attention to who is responsible for the translation. Some translators are awful. Some are mediocre (such as whoever did this one). And some are wonderful (Brian Hooker).
For those who are not as enamored of Brian Hooker's work as I am, the Anthony Burgess translation is also quite good.
Caveat Emptor.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Brian Hooker translation.
This is the classic Hooker translation of Cyrano. Compared to other editions, it is arguably more poetic and therefore retains more of the original's literary impact. Read more
Published 9 days ago by M. Wang
3.0 out of 5 stars
Love the play! Book quality…meh.
This play touches so many human emotions and makes us think about vanity, valor, and personal character. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Energy Guy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great school text
I bought this for my son and he loved it. Good binding for travelling to school and back each day.
Published 5 months ago by Ax
5.0 out of 5 stars
replacement book
This was required reading in school. The copy I borrowed from the classroom got damaged at the gym, so This is a replacement. Read more
Published 10 months ago by 821books
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Edition!
Brian Hooker's classic translation of Edmund Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac is brilliant! This edition is set up very nicely and is easy to read. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Silence Dogood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jimmy Durante's predecessor
This play is famous, perhaps more so than most of Shakespeare's plays but how many people have seen or read it? Read more
Published on December 7, 2010 by Melvin Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliantly Translated
Rostand's original was written in rhymed couplets, which would have sounded ridiculous to an English-speaking audience. Read more
Published on September 9, 2010 by Richard Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Unfortunately I had to return this item, but the seller made it fast and easy.
Published on August 25, 2010 by rl120
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classy and Effective
Best enjoyed in its superior French version, Cyrano is as "classy" as it gets. Simple, yet most effective, full of humor yet very sad. Read more
Published on November 27, 2009 by Michel Bruneau
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MARVELOUS PLAY, ESPECIALLY FOR LOVERS AND THINKERS
Cyrano de Bergerac (Bantam Classics reissue)
(Unlike most of the 47 previous reviews, this one is based on the splendid, classic translation by Brian Hooker. Read more
(Unlike most of the 47 previous reviews, this one is based on the splendid, classic translation by Brian Hooker. Read more
Published on May 5, 2009 by Curtis Crawford
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 3
books:
- The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas in Front Matter, page 45, and page 133
- The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas père in Front Matter, page 45, and page 133
- Edmond Rostand (World Authors) by Alba Della Fazia Amoia in Back Matter
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