Britannicus ; Phaedra ; AthaliahJean Racine (1639-99) remains to this day the greatest of French poetic dramatists. Britannicus (1669), the first play in this volume, takes its themes from Roman history: the setting is bloody and treacherous court of the Emperor Nero. Phaedra (1677) dramatizes the Greek myth of Phaedra'sdoomed love for her stepson Hippolytus. Athaliah (1691), Racine's last and perhaps finest play, draws on the Old Testament story of Athaliah, Queen of Judah and worshipper of Baal, who is threatened and finally forced to concede victory to Joash, a son of the house of David and survivor ofAthaliah's massacres. Racine's tragedies portray characters wrestling with ambition, treachery, religion, and love. In this translation, specially commissioned for The World's Classics series, C.H. Sisson has captured admirably the lucidity of Racine's language, both analytic and passionate, and the rhythm of hisfour-part Alexandrine, a combination that previous translators have consistently failed to achieve. |
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Abner accused AGRIPPINA Ahaziah Albina already altar anger Aricia arms ATHALIAH avenge AZARIAS blood Britannicus brother brought Burrhus Caesar charms child Chorus Claudius court crime cruel dare daughter David dear death Eliazin emperor empire enemies everything eyes father fear fury give glory gods hands happy hate hatred hear heart heaven high priest Hippolytus holy honour hope horror husband innocent Ismene JEAN RACINE JEHOIADA JEHOSHEBA Jehu Jezebel Joash Judah Junia king leave Levites listen look lord madam Madame de Maintenon Mattan mind misfortune Molière monster mother Nabal Narcissus Nero Octavia OENONE once OXFORD WORLD'S CLASSICS Pallas PANOPE Pasiphaë perhaps PHAEDRA pity play Port-Royal prince princess promised punished queen Racine Racine's reign Rome SALOMITH SCENE secret silence sister speak tears tell temple THERAMENES Theseus thought throne tragedy Troezene trouble Uzès virtue voice wish Zechariah ΜΑΤΤΑΝ