This is the first volume of a planned translation into English
of all twelve of Jean Racine's plays--a project undertaken only
three times in the three hundred years since Racine's death. For
this new translation, Geoffrey Alan Argent has taken a fresh
approach: he has rendered these plays in rhymed "heroic" couplets.
While Argent's translation is faithful to Racine's text and tone,
his overriding intent has been to translate a work of French
literature into a work of English literature, substituting for
Racine's rhymed alexandrines (hexameters) the English mode of
rhymed iambic pentameters, a verse form particularly well suited to
the highly charged urgency of Racine's drama and the coiled
strength of his verse.
Complementing the translations are the illuminating Discussions
and the extensive Notes and Commentaries Argent has furnished for
each play. The Discussions are not offered as definitive
interpretations of these plays, but are intended to stimulate
readers to form their own views and to explore further the
inexhaustibly rich world of Racine's plays. Included in the Notes
and Commentary section of this translation are passages that Racine
deleted after the first edition and have never before appeared in
English.
The full title of Racine's first tragedy is La Thebaide ou les
Freres ennemis (The Saga of Thebes, or The Enemy Brothers). But
Racine was far less concerned with recounting the struggle for
Thebes than in examining those indomitable passions--in this case,
hatred--that were to prove his lifelong focus of interest. For
Oedipus's sons, Eteocles and Polynices (the titular brothers),
vying for the throne is rather a symptom than a cause of their
unquenchable hatred--so unquenchable that by the end of the play it
has not only destroyed these twin brothers, but has also claimed
the lives of their mother, their sister, their uncle, and their two
cousins as collateral damage. Indeed, as Racine acknowledges in his
preface, "There is hardly a character in it who does not die at the
end."
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
