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Culture, history,
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EDMOND ROSTAND - French Dramatist
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Edmond Rostand
{raws-tahn'}, b. Apr. 1, 1868, d. Dec. 2, 1918, was a French dramatist whose plays represent
the final flowering of the 19th-century romantic tradition. His greatest work, Cyrano de
Bergerac (1897; Eng. trans., 1898), was a dazzling popular success and remains a worldwide
favorite to this day. Its hero, marred by an enormous nose, rises heroically above his bodily
defect in scenes of unparalleled verve, wit, and pathos.
One of Rostand's earlier works, The Romancers (1894; Eng. trans., 1899), has been adapted
as the highly successful musical comedy The Fantasticks. His other plays include L'Aiglon
(The Eaglet, 1900), a sentimental account of the life of Napoleon I's ill-starred son, and
Chantecler (1910), in which all the characters are animals. In 1910, Rostand became the
youngest writer to be elected to the Académie Française. He died a victim of the
widespread influenza epidemic of 1918.
Source: 1997 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia v.9.0.1
Bibliography: Alba Amoia, Edmond Rostand (1978).
Image Source: portrait of Edmond Rostand - Bettmann Archive ;
American actor Jose Ferrer portraying Cyrano de Bergerac - Corbis-Bettmann.
Cyrano de Bergerac
{sir'-uh-noh duh bur'-zhur-ak}
A heroic comedy by Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de
Bergerac (1897; Eng. trans., 1898; films, 1925 and 1950) is loosely based on the life of
Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac. The play, written in both blank and unrhymed verse, idealistically
portrays the charming, valiant, and witty Cyrano -- master duelist, soldier, poet, and philosopher.
Despite his many victories, Cyrano believes that his overly long nose will discourage love in
Roxane, the woman he admires. Honor and friendship prevent him from declaring his passion. Only
before dying does he avow his love. Despite its sentimentality, Cyrano is a lyrical study in
praise of love, fidelity, honor, and heroism.
Joseph A. Reiter, Assistant Professor of Modern Languages, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, N.H.
Source: 1997 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia v.9.0.1
Image Source: video cover of Cyrano de Bergerac,
starring Gérard Depardieu - Amazon.com.
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Playwright Biographies:
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Rostand Links:
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