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 "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 "Britannicus," the fifth of twelve plays by the author. "Britannicus" is the first work by the author to draw upon Roman History for its subject matter. The story concerns Britannicus, the son of the Roman emperor Claudius, and would be heir to the imperial throne. Britannicus's rule would be usurped however by Nero who has desires for Britannicus's fiancée Junia as well. The struggle for power and love are...

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 "Andromache," the third of twelve plays by the author. The drama is a five act tragedy based on Euripides' play "Andromache" and draws upon the third book of Virgil's "Aeneid." In the aftermath of the Trojan war, Andromache has been taken prisoner in Epirus by Pyrrhus, her husband Hector has been slain by Achilles, who is due to be married to Hermione, the only daughter of the Spartan king Menelaus and Helen...

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 : "Quand je lus les Guêpes d'Aristophane, je ne songeais guères que j'en dusse faire les Plaideurs. J'avoue qu'elles me divertirent beaucoup, et que j'y trouvai quantité de plaisanteries qui me tentèrent d'en faire part au public ; mais c'était en les mettant dans la bouche des Italiens, à qui je les avais destinées, comme une chose qui lui appartenait de plein droit..."

Extrait : "JOCASTE: Ils sont sortis, Olympe? Ah mortelles douleurs! Qu'un moment de repos me va coûter de pleurs! Mes yeux depuis six mois étaient ouverts aux larmes..."

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 !"