These are English language versions of the last two plays of the 17th century French playwright Jean Racine. The plays are written in narrative prose, rather than in the original rhyming couplets. They are "religious" in that they are based on biblical texts, but can best be described as tragic, neoclassical, drama set in biblical history. The characters are a mixture of chronicled individuals, whose known lives have been enhanced, and others totally invented to fit Racine's tragic plots. The plays are for general reading, dramatic production and for students. This book is of benefit to anyone who understands English but has anything less than a high level of French. It should be of particular interesting to those seeking material with strong female roles.
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