L'Aiglon Drame En Six Actes, En Vers & Cyrano De Bergerac, Comedie Heroique En Cinq Actes En Vers by Edmond Rostand - 1925

Paris -Librarie Chaprentier et Fasquelle, 1925 Book. VERY GOOD INDEED. Hardcover. Two very smart volumes of renowned dramatist Edmond Rostand's plays 'L'Aiglon' and 'Cyrando De Bergerac'. 'L'Aiglon' is a play in six acts based on the life of Napoleon's son, Napoleon II of France, Duke of Reichstadt. The title comes from a nickname for Napoleon II, the French word for eaglet (a young eagle). The title role was created by Sarah Bernhardt in the play's premiere on 15 March 1900 at the Thtre Sarah Bernhardt. In October of the same year, the play in an English translation by Louis N. Parker, premiered at New York's Knickerbocker Theatre with Maude Adams in the title role. Its first performance in London was at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1901, with Bernhardt again as the Duke of Reichstadt. Rostand had written 'L'Aiglon' specifically for Bernhardt, and it became one of her signature roles. Cyrano de Bergerac was written in 1897. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play is a fictionalization of his life that follows the broad outlines of it. The entire play is written in verse, in rhyming couplets of 12 syllables per line, very close to the Alexandrine format, but the verses sometimes lack a caesura. It is also meticulously researched, down to the names of the members of the Acadmie franaise and the dames prcieuses glimpsed before the performance in the first scene. The play has been translated and performed many times, and is responsible for introducing the word panache into the English language. Cyrano (the character) is in fact famed for his panache, and the play ends with him saying My panache. just before his death. The two most famous English translations are those by Brian Hooker and Anthony Burgess. Edmond Eugne Alexis Rostand (1868 1918) was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism, and is best known for his play 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. Rostand's romantic plays contrasted with the naturalistic theatre popular during the late nineteenth century. Another of Rostand's works, Les Romanesques, was adapted to the musical comedy, The Fantasticks. Condition: In a brown half-calf binding. Externally generally smart, though lightly rubbed in places, and some very slight wear to the extremities. Internally firmly bound with generally bright and clean pages throughout, with some browning due to age. Textblock untrimmed. Ink inscription to front free-endpaper of both volumes dated 1926. Overall: VERY GOOD INDEED..