The Misanthrope [B2006]

1955 HCDJ limited first edition in nice clean condition with some wear to the dust jacket. SIGNED by the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet & translator of seventeenth-century French playwright Moliere's comic masterpiece into English, capturing not only the form and spirit of the language but also its substance. The Misanthrope is one of the best of Molière's plays - and one of the greatest of all comedies - spotlighting the absurdities of social and literary pretension, focusing on a man who is quick to criticize the faults of others, yet remains blind to his own. Itis a searching comic study of falsity, shallowness, and self-righteousness through the character of Alceste, a man whose conscience and sincerity are too rigorous for his time. The play differs from other farces at the time by employing dynamic characters like Alceste and Célimène as opposed to the traditionally flat characters used by most satirists to criticize problems in society. It also differs from most of Molière's other works by focusing more on character development and nuances than on plot progression. The play, though not a commercial success in its time, survives as Molière's best-known work today. Much of its universal appeal is due to common undercurrents of misanthropy across cultural borders.

From recent-ish Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Here is an author who knows how to write a play. His wit and social satire brought forward through humorous dialogues and dramatic actions are so entertaining. His plays transport you to a theatre, and though you read it, you almost feel like watching it performed."; "Exceptional translation by Richard Wilbur."; "A great play, witty and clever, about a guy who just has to tell it like it is, especially if it upsets other people."; "Stumbled across this mostly by accident and was pleasantly surprised. There was a nice lyricism to the verse that made this an enjoyable read. May have to branch out to some more Molière in the future."