Some plays of Corneille that were formerly considered masterpieces are no longer admired; others that were little liked are now much acclaimed by critics. Amid such changes--and such divergences--of evaluation, the student of drama who is lacking in knowledge of French, but who has a critical sense perhaps equal or even superior to that of many people who are better linguists, may wish that he could judge for himself. This he can do with reasonable assurance by means of translations, just as is commonly done with the dramas of Ibsen. Except as regards poetry, a play can be appraised in a good translation almost as well as in its own language. In an earlier book, The Chief Plays of Corneille, Dr. Lockert translated the six most famous (but not necessarily the best) tragedies of that dramatist. The present volume makes available to English readers all his other plays, comedies aside, for which high claims have been or could be made. Some recent critics have pronounced some of them superior to everything else of Corneille but the Cid and Polyeucte. A brief introduction is prefixed to each play, giving examples of the diverse opinions held by representative critics in the last eighty-five years.

This unique volume contains studies not only of Corneille's and Racine's tragedies but also of the best work of the lesser French-classical tragic dramatists, too generally neglected, to whom more than half of the book is devoted. Its author brings to his tasks of presentation, criticism, and appraisal a wider acquaintance, perhaps, with the drama of many lands and times than anyone who has previously written at any considerable length on the subject of French-classical tragedy. To the desirable perspective thus obtained, he joins an appreciation of good plays of every type, without prejudice either for or against any type of drama. Numerous, often lengthy, quoted passages (with an English verse translation accompanying the French in every case) exemplify the achievement and exhibit the qualities of the dramas and dramatists discussed. That portion of the author's critical work in this field which has already appeared, as introductions in his volumes of translated plays, has been much appreciated, as witness the following brief excerpts from reviews of those books: "The plays...are discussed with insight and enthusiasm."--(London) Notes and Queries. "Refreshingly original and yet free from specious pleading or naive enthusiasm."--Chattanooga Times. "Thoughtful, discerning appraisals."--Seventeenth Century News. "An excellent critical introduction."--The Library Journal. "A judicious introduction."--Arthur Knodel in The Personalist. "The very best interpretative treatment of Corneille that has appeared."--C. Maxwell Lancaster.

Here are blank verse translations of ten of the best tragedies by French dramatists contemporary with Corneille and Racine, and two by the most noted successors. No great dramatist can be properly understood and appreciated without some knowledge of the lesser playwrights surrounding him. The fact has long been realized as regards to Shakespeare; but the lesser figures of the great age of French drama--men comparable to such Elizabethans as Middleton and Fletcher and Massinger--have been generally neglected. This book makes a selection of their best works available to English readers. French students who do not have access to the frequently rare French texts of these plays will find it valuable. No play by any of these dramatists, except Voltaire, has ever before been translated into English. The faithfulness and literary qualities of Dr. Lockert's translations are avouched by his two previous volumes in this field, The Chief Plays of Corneille and The Best Plays of Racine.

A follow-up to Lacy Lockert's classic The Chief Rivals of Corneille and Racine (Vanderbilt University Press 1956), More Plays by Rivals of Corneille and Racine consists of more French tragedies of the period--eleven plays from the great age of French drama in the seventeenth century, one play from the prolific pen of Alexandre Hardy, who preceded the great age, and one from the eighteenth century, the aftermath of that age. The volume contains plays Lockert typified as "excellent," such as Tiridate and Mariamne, Geta, and Ariane, "smash hits" of the time like Timocrate and Astrate, and several other plays Lockert called "minor," but that he felt would be of interest to scholars.

Racine's masterpieces--Andromaque, Britannicus, Phedre, and Athalie--are translated into English verse. The introduction and notes by Mr. Lockert guide the reader to a greater understanding of the plays. Originally published in 1966. 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.

Translated into English rhyming verse, with introductions, by Lacy Lockert, the four plays included in this volume are Berenice, Bajazet, Mithridate, and Iphigenie. They are significant for their inherent excellence, and for what they reveal about the development of a great dramatist. Originally published in 1958. 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.

Racine's masterpieces--Andromaque, Britannicus, Phedre, and Athalie--are translated into English verse. The introduction and notes by Mr. Lockert guide the reader to a greater understanding of the plays. Originally published in 1966. 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.

"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.

"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.

Translated into English terza rima verse with introduction and notes by Lacy Lockert. Originally published in 1931. 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.

Translated into English rhyming verse, with introductions, by Lacy Lockert, the four plays included in this volume are Berenice, Bajazet, Mithridate, and Iphigenie. They are significant for their inherent excellence, and for what they reveal about the development of a great dramatist. Originally published in 1958. 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.

Translated into English terza rima verse with introduction and notes by Lacy Lockert. Originally published in 1931. 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.

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