{"product_id":"9780141392097","title":"Four French Plays: Cinna, The Misanthrope, Andromache, Phaedra","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 'greatest hits' of French classical theatre, in vivid and acclaimed new Penguin translations by John Edmunds and with editorial apparatus by Joseph Harris.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe plays in this volume - \u003ci\u003eCinna\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Misanthrope\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAndromache\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003ePhaedra\u003c\/i\u003e - span only thirty-seven years, but make up the defining period of French theatre. In Corneille's \u003ci\u003eCinna \u003c\/i\u003e(1640), absolute power is explored in ancient Rome, while Molière's \u003ci\u003eThe Misanthrope \u003c\/i\u003e(1666), the only comedy in this collection, sees its anti-hero outcast for his refusal to conform to social conventions. Here also are two key plays by Racine: \u003ci\u003eAndromache\u003c\/i\u003e (1667), recounting the tragedy of Hector's widow after the Trojan War, and \u003ci\u003ePhaedre \u003c\/i\u003e(1677), showing a mother crossing the bounds of love with her son.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis translation of \u003ci\u003ePhaedra\u003c\/i\u003e was originally broadcast on Radio Three with a cast including Prunella Scales and Timothy West, and was praised by playwright Harold Pinter. This is the first time it has been published. The edition also includes an introduction by Joseph Harris, genealogical tables, pronunciation guides, critiques and prefaces, as well as a chronology and suggested further reading.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter a varied career as an actor, teacher, and BBC TV national newsreader, John Edmunds became the founder-director of Aberystwyth University's department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies. Joseph Harris is Senior Lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London and author of \u003ci\u003eHidden Agendas: Cross-Dressing in Seventeenth-Century France\u003c\/i\u003e (2005).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47077534040304,"sku":"9780141392097","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780141392097_p0.jpg?v=1763656274","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780141392097","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}