Jean Racine

Une édition de référence de Phèdre de Jean Racine, spécialement conçue pour la lecture sur les supports numériques. « HIPPOLYTE Non, mon père, ce cœur, c'est trop vous le celer, N'a point d'un chaste amour dédaigné de brûler. Je confesse à vos pieds ma véritable offense: J'aime; j'aime, il est vrai, malgré votre défense. Aricie à ses lois tient mes vœux asservis; La fille de Pallante a vaincu votre fils. Je l'adore, et mon...

Dans la Rome antique, Titus, empereur de Rome, doit renoncer à son amour pour Bérénice, reine de Palestine, à l'approche du mariage. Tous deux s'aiment du plus tendre des amours, mais les lois romaines interdisent qu'une étrangère devienne impératrice. Le destin est en marche — est-ce là une chance pour Antiochus, ami de Titus, d'approcher celle qu'il a toujours convoité en secret?Représentée pour la première fois le 21 novembre 1670,...

In this volume of Racine's plays we find "Alexander the Great," the second of twelve plays by the author. As you would expect the drama concerns its titular character and his love for the Indian princess Cleofile. Based largely on the histories of Roman historian Quintus Curtius Rufus, Alexander finds his pursuit of love of the Indian princess complicated by intrigues between her brother Taxilus and his ally Porus.

In this volume of Racine's plays we find "Berenice," the sixth of twelve plays by the author. One of Racine's more popular plays in the modern era it was not performed often until the 20th century. In this work Racine draws upon the histories of Roman historian Suetonius, who recounts the story of the Roman emperor Titus and Berenice of Cilicia. Titus, whose father Vespasian has died, is presumed to be free to marry his beloved Berenice, queen of...

In this volume of Racine's plays we find "Bajazet," the seventh of twelve plays by the author. A five act tragedy, "Bajazet" draws its subject from contemporary history, taking care to choose a far off location, the Ottoman Empire. Set in 1635, the Sultan Amurat has executed his brothers and potential rivals Bajazet and Orcan. A rich example of Racine's dramatic talent, "Bajazet" is a complex tragedy rich with romantic subplots.

In this volume of Racine's plays we find "Athaliah," the last of twelve plays by the author. Considering that it was Racine's final work it may come as no surprise that it has been described as the masterpiece of "one of the greatest literary artists known." Revered by Voltaire who saw it as "perhaps the masterpiece of mankind" and by Flaubert who referred to it as an "immortal masterpiece of the French stage." The story itself concerns the biblical...

In this volume of Racine's plays we find "Esther," the penultimate of twelve plays by the author. "Esther" was written at the request of Madame de Maintenon, second wife of King Louis XIV of France, who wished Racine write some more liturgical works to be performed by the pupils of the Maison royale de Saint-Louis, a famous academy for girls. Racine's drama concerns the Biblical character of Esther, Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus, who...

In this volume of Racine's plays we find "Iphigenia," the ninth of twelve plays by the author. After a series of historical dramas Racine choose to return to mythological subject matter for his ninth play. As Agamemnon, King of the Greeks, prepares his navy to attack Troy, the gods quell the winds for their journey and demand the sacrifice of Iphigenia, Agamemnon's daughter. Based in part on Euripides' "Iphigenia in Aulis," Racine departs somewhat...

Collected in this volume is a complete collection of Racine's dramatic works. Written between 1664 and 1691 Racine's plays draw their subject matter from historical events, mythology and the Bible. Presented in this volume are translations by Robert Bruce Boswell of the following works: "The Thebaid," "Alexander the Great," "Andromache," "The Litigants," "Britannicus," "Berenice," "Bajazet," "Mithridates," "Iphigenia," "Phaedra," "Esther," and "Athaliah."...

Extrait : " MITHRIDATE : Venez, mon fils, venez, votre père est trahi. Un fils audacieux insulte à ma ruine, Traverse mes desseins, m'outrage, m'assassine, Aime la reine enfin, lui plaît, et me ravit Un cœur que son devoir à moi seul asservit. Heureux pourtant, heureux, que dans cette disgrâce, Je ne puisse accuser que la main de Pharnace ; Qu'une mère infidèle, un frère audacieux, Vous présentent en vain leur exemple odieux !"