Four French Plays · Cinna, The Misanthrope, Andromache, Phaedra (Penguin Classics)

Four of the greatest French plays, in new translations

Here are four plays that continue to define French theater over three centuries after they were written. Corneille’s Cinna (1641) explores absolute power in ancient Rome. Molière’s comedy The Misanthrope (1666) sees its antihero reject society for its hypocrisy. Racine’s Andromache (1667) recounts the tragedy of Hector’s widow after the Trojan War, and his Phaedra (1677) shows a mother crossing the boundaries of love with her stepson. This edition features new verse translations undertaken with performance in mind, and a wealth of supplementary materials for students and actors.