Moliere Boeken

"One of the most accomplished American poets of his generation, Richard Wilbur (1921-2017) was also a prolific translator of French and Russian literature. His verse translations of Molïre's plays are especially admired by readers and are still performed today in theaters around the world. Wilbur, the critic John Simon once wrote, makes Molïre into as great an English verse playwright as he was a French one. Now, for the first time, all ten of Wilbur's unsurpassed translations of Molïre's plays are brought together in two-volume Library of America edition, fulfilling the poet's vision for the translations. This first volume comprises Molïre's delightful early farces The Bungler, Lover's Quarrels, and The Imaginary Cuckhold, or Sganarelle; the comedies The School for Husbands and The School for Wives, about the efforts of middle-aged men to control their young wives or fiancés, which so delighted female theater goers in Moliere's seventeenth-century France; and Don Juan, Molïre's retelling of the Don Juan story, performed only briefly in the playwright's lifetime before pious censure forced it to close and not part of the repertoire of the Comédie-Fraṅaise until 1847. This volume includes the original introductions by Richard Wilbur and an introduction by Adam Gopnik on the exquisite art of Wilbur's translations."--Provided by publisher

For the 400th anniversary of Moliere's birth, Richard Wilbur's unsurpassed translations of Molière's plays--themselves towering achievements in English verse--are brought together by Library of America in a two-volume edition One of the most accomplished American poets of his generation, Richard Wilbur (1921-2017) was also a prolific translator of French and Russian literature. His verse translations of Molière's plays are especially admired by readers and are still performed today in theaters around the world. "Wilbur," the critic John Simon once wrote, "makes Molière into as great an English verse playwright as he was a French one." Now, for the first time, all ten of Wilbur's unsurpassed translations of Molière's plays are brought together in two-volume Library of America edition, fulfilling the poet's vision for the translations. The second volume includes the elusive masterpiece, The Misanthrope, often said to occupy the same space in comedy as Shakespeare's Hamlet does in tragedy; the fantastic farce Amphitryon, about how Jupiter and Mercury commandeer the identities of two mortals ; Tartuffe, Molière's biting satire of religious hypocrisy; and The Learned Ladies, like Tarfuffe, a drama of a household turned suddenly upside down. This volume includes the original introductions by Richard Wilbur and a foreword by Adam Gopnik on the exquisite art of Wilbur's translations.

The narrative centers on Harpagon, a miserly character whose obsession with wealth leads to the neglect of his family and relationships. Through sharp satire, the play critiques greed and examines the moral implications of money on love and family dynamics. This English translation from 1732 makes Moliere's renowned work accessible to a broader audience. As a facsimile reprint, it aims to preserve the cultural significance of the original text, despite potential imperfections from its historical origins.

The book is a facsimile reprint of an original antiquarian work, highlighting its cultural significance despite potential imperfections like marks and flawed pages. It aims to protect and promote important literature by providing an affordable, high-quality modern edition that remains true to the original text.

The aging but vital Harpagon is hoarding every centime he can get his hands on, making sure that his two children, the virginal Elise and the dandy Cleante, live under his iron will. To complicate matters, Elise has fallen in love with the handsome Valere, who masquerades as a servant in the household, despite his noble birth, and, worse yet, Cleante and Harpagon are both smitten with the same woman, the beautiful, if somewhat dim, Marianne. Meanwhile, scheming servants and assorted hustlers angle for Harpagon's incredible wealth, much of which is now buried and protected by snarling Dobermans. The delirious plot spirals to a wildly comic finish, filled with all the masterful plot twists and outrageous revelations one would expect from one of Molière's finest plays.

Set in 17th century France, this five-act play features two pairs of young lovers navigating the complexities of love. Moliere, renowned for his comedic talent, employs sharp satire and memorable, straightforward characters to explore romantic entanglements. His unique approach contrasts with Shakespeare's complexity, showcasing his ability to create engaging narratives that resonate with audiences while also provoking the ire of his contemporaries. The play reflects Moliere's skill in blending humor with insightful social commentary.

A brilliant and witty new translation of Moliere's Misanthrope.

Of all the French dramatists, it is Molière (1622–73) who had the greatest sense of fun and he who, single-handed, transformed earthbound comedy into art. The Misanthrope, a drama of true love unrequited, is his knowledge masterpiece. As the portrait of a man doomed to a social wilderness because he cannot bow to convention nor compromise his principles, it is a comedy taken it the limit where laughter touches on grief. Also in this volume are Tartuffe, the first great comedy of human obsession (in this case, religion); The Imaginary Invalid, a joyful and absurd burlesque on the doctor-patient relationship; A Doctor in Spite of Himself, Molière's most famous farce; and The Sicilian, a comédie-ballet.